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CONTINENTAL CONGRESS 


A PAPER 


—) READ BY (— 


Major Charles e. Bliven 

-) BEFORE THE (- 


Illinois Commandery, Military Order of the Loyal Legion, 
Chicago, Ills., Feb. 1 1, 18 92. 















Continental Congress, 


• ■ A PAPER ■ ■ 

-) READ BY (- 

MAJOR CHARLES E, BLIYEN 

/, 

-) BEFORE THE(-- 

Illinois Commandery, Military Order of the Loyal Legion, Chicago, 
Illinois, February 11th, 1892. 







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HOME PRINT: 

Western Branch National Military Home for D. V. S., 
Leavenworth County, Kansas. 




CONTINENTAL CONGRESS. 


A Paper read before the Illinois Commandery of the Military Order of the Loyal 
Legion of the United States, Chicago , 111, February 11th, 1892 . 


Mr. Commander and Companions : 

The American people are apt to look upon the Continental Congress, so- 
called, through the eyes of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, and 
attribute all the credit and responsibility of carrying on the War of the Revolu¬ 
tion, to those whose names appear upon that immortal document. 

This should not be the case, for while there were from time to time, eighty - 
three members of the 76 or Independence Congress, the names of but fifty-six 
are signed to the Declaration ; at least six of whom, to-wit: Benjamin Rush, 
George Clymer, James Smith, George Taylor and Geo. Ross of Pennsylvania, and 
Matthew Thornton of New Hampshire, were not members of Congress when it 
was proposed, discussed and adopted, and one of these not a member for nearly 
four months after it was adopted; and did not sign it until he was elected and 
appeared as a member of the next succeeding Congress. 

Others were members only of the Congress that did adopt it; several mem¬ 
bers of the second or “ Independence ” Congress advocated and one voted for it, 
whose names do not appear upon it; se\eral otherwise very active and influen¬ 
tial members of the 76 or Independence Congress, opposed the Declaration, and 
apparently left Congress rather than vote for it, and what is more remarkable, 
one of the Committee appointed to draft the Declaration itself, Robert R. Living¬ 
ston, did not vote for it or sign it. 

Others were chosen to this Congress who were either absent or did not vote, 
and one member, Thos. McKean of Delaware, who not only advocated and voted 
for it, and was most influential and instrumental in securing the signatures of the 
delegates from that colony, (and was, I am constrained to say, one of the origi¬ 
nal authors of the ideas in the Declaration), yet his name, although upon the 
document itself, did not appear among the signers when it was first officially made 
public; nor does it appear among the signatures published in the official journal. 

Another, Henry Wisner, a delegate from Orange County, New York, not only 
advocated and apparently voted for the Declaration, and evidently was a member 
of the Congress for some days after it was adopted, yet his name does not appear 
upon it, as he retired from Congress before it was engrossed and ready for sig¬ 
natures. 


The first session of “Continental Congress,” so-called, was begun and held in 
Carpenter’s Hall, in the city of Philadelphia, on the 5th day of September, A. D. 
1774. 

This body was the outgrowth of a meeting of Commissioners from the Colo¬ 
nies of Massachusetts Bay, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New 




4 


CONTINENTAL CONGRESS. 


York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Maryland, wlio met at New Yoik on the 7th 
day of October, 1765. 

And this meeting was the outgrowth of the first Congress ever held in America, 
to-wit: at Albany, in June, 1754, at which Virginia, North and South Carolina 
were conspicuous by their absence, and which was the result of a proposition by 
Massachusetts “ for a Congress of Commissioners for the several Colonies to con¬ 
sult together on the present circumstances of the Colonies; the acts of Parlia¬ 
ment laying duties and taxes upon them; also to consider a general and humble 
address to His Majesty and Parliament for relief, and agree upon a memorial to 
the House of Lords, and a petition to the King and Commons acknowledging 
allegiance, but claiming they had interests, rights, and liberties, as natural born 
subjects to His Majesty, and as they could not be represented in Parliament, that 
party had no right to impose taxes upon them without consent.” Subsequently 
the other Colonies, not represented in this Congress, also gave the Memorial 
their sanction. 


An extract from the minutes, to-wit: the “Journals of Congress,” reads as 
follows: 

“ On Monday, Sept. 5th, 1774, a number of delegates chosen and appointed 
by the several Colonies and provinces in North America, to meet and hold a Con¬ 
gress at Philadelphia, assembled at Carpenter’s Hall. 

There were present: 

From New Hampshire—Maj. John Sullivan, Esq., Col. Nathaniel Folsom, Esq. 

From Massachusetts Bay—The Hon. Thos. Cushing, John Adams, Esq., Mr. 
Samuel Adams, Robert Treat Paine, Esq. 

From Rhode Island and Providence Plantations—The Hon. Stephen Hopkins, 
Esq., the Hon. Samuel Ward, Esq. 

From Connecticutt—The Hon. Eliphalet Dyer, Esq., the Hon. Roger Sher¬ 
man, Esq., Silas Deane, Esq. 

From the City and County of New York, and other Counties in the Province 
of New York—James Duane, Esq., John Jay, Esq., Phillip Livingston, Esq., 
Isaac Low, Esq. 

From the County of Suffolk, in the Province of New York -Col. William 
Floyd, Esq. 

From New Jersey James Kinsey, Esq., John DeHart, Esq., William Living¬ 
ston, Esq., Stephen Crane, Esq., Richard Smith, Esq. 

From Pennsylvania—The Hon. Joseph Galloway, Esq., Chas. Humphreys, 
Esq., Samuel Rhodes, Esq., Thos. Mifflin, Esq., John Morton, Esq., Edward 
Biddle, Esq. 

From the Counties of Kent, Sussex, and New Castle on Delaware—The Hon. 
Caesar Rodney, Esq., Thos. McKean, Esq. 

From Maryland -Robert Goldsborough, Esq., William Paca, Esq., Samuel 
Chase, Esq. 

From Virginia The Hon. Peyton Randolph, Esq., George Washington, Esq., 
Patrick Henry, Esq., Richard Bland, Esq., Benjamin Harrison, Esq., Edmund 
Pendleton, Esq. 




CONTINENTAL CONGRESS. 


b 


From South Carolina—Henry Middleton, Esq., Christopher Gadsden, Esq., 
John Rutledge, Esq., Thos. Lynch, Esq., Edward Rutledge, Esq. 43 in all. 

“‘The Congress’ proceeded to a choice of a President, when the Hon. Peyton 
Randolph was unanimously elected. Mr. Chas. Thompson was unanimously 
chosen Secretary. 

“The gentlemen from the several Colonies produced their respective creden¬ 
tials, which were received and approved.” Thus runs the official record. 

The Delegates from the Province of New Hampshire were appointed by 
Deputies from the several towns, at a meeting held at Exeter, July 21st, 1774, at 
which eighty-five members were present. 

These delegates to Congress were empowered; “ to devise, consult and adopt 
such measures as may have most likely tendency to extricate the colonies from 
their present difficulties ; to secure and perpetuate their rights, liberties and 
privileges, and to restore that peace, harmony and mutual confidence which once 
happily subsisted between the Mother Country and her colonies.” 

The Delegates from the Province of Massachusetts Bay were appointed by 
the House of Representatives on June 17th, 1774, “to deliberate and determine 
upon wise and proper measures * * * for the recovery and establishment of their 
just rights and liberties, civil and religious, and the restoration of union and har¬ 
mony between Great Britain and the Colonies.” [The Hon. Thos. Bowdoin, Esq., 
one of the delegates so appointed, does not appear to have attended the Congress ] 

From the Province of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, the dele¬ 
gates were appointed by the General Assembly, and were empowered “ to obtain 
a repeal of the several acts of the British Parliament, for levying taxes upon His 
Majesty’s subjects in America without their consent, and particularly an act 
lately passed blocking up the port of Boston, and upon proper measures to estab¬ 
lish the rights and liberties of the Colonies upon a just and solid foundation.” 

These credentials were signed by John Walton, Esq., Governor, Captain- 
General, and Commander-in-Chief over the English Colony of Rhode Island and 
Providence Plantations in New England, on the 10th day of August, 1774, and the 
14tli year of the reign of His most sacred Majesty George the Third, by the grace 
of God, King of Great Britain. 

The delegates from Connecticut were appointed by a Committee of corres¬ 
pondence, which was appointed by the House of Representatives, June 3d, to 
select such delegates “to attend such Congress to consult and advise upon proper 
measures for advancing the best ‘Good of the Colonies’.” Of those appointed, 
the Hon. William Samuel Johnson, Esq., Erastus Wolcott, Esq., Richard Law, 
Esq., and Joseph Trumbull, Esq., failed to attend. 

The delegates from New York were selected at polls held in several wards in 
the city and county of New York. Subsequently, the counties of Westchester, 
Albany and Duchess appointed the same delegates. The county of Suffolk ap¬ 
pointed Col. William Floyd as their representative. * 

The delegates from New Jersey were appointed “by a convention of fourteen, 
appointed by the several counties who met at New Brunswick, July 23d, and the 
14th year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord, King George the Third, and A. D. 
1774.” 

The delegates from Pennsylvania were appointed by the Assembly, July 22d, 


CONTINENTAL CONGRESS. 


6 

1774, “to form and adopt a plan for the purpose of obtaining redress of American 
grievances, asserting American rights upon the most solid and constitutional 
principles, and for establishing that union and harmony between Great Britain 
and the Colonies which is indispensably necessary to the welfare and happiness 
of both.” 

The delegates from the three counties, Kent, New Castle, and Sussex on 
Delaware, were appointed by a convention of “ Freeholders and freemen, assembled 
on Aug. 1st, 1774, pursuant to circular letters issued from the Speaker of the 
House, * * * as the House had adjourned to the 30th Sept, next, and it is not 
expected that His Honor, the Governor, would call us together, * * * .having 

refused to do the like in his other provinces of Pennsylvania,” adopted the 
following resolutions, to-wit: 

“We. the representatives of the freemen of the Government of the counties 
of Kent, New Castle, and Sussex on Delaware, * * * taking into our most 
serious consideration the several acts of the British Parliament for restricting 
manufactures in his Majesties colonies and plantations in North America, for 
taking away the property of the colonists without their participation or consent; 
for the introduction of the arbitrary powers of excise into the customs here; for 
making all revenue causes liable without jury, and under the decision of a single 
dependent judge; for trial in England of persons accused of Capital crimes com¬ 
mitted in the Colonies ; for shutting up the port of Boston ; for the goverment of 
the Massachusetts Bay, and the operation of the same on the property, liberty, 
and lives of the Colonists; and also considering that the most eligible mode of 
determining upon the premises and of endeavoiing to procure relief and redress 
of our grievances, * * * and of answering the desire of our constituents is to 
appoint commissioners or deputies to act with those appointed by the other prov¬ 
inces * * * in a General Continental Congress, etc.” 

The delegates from the province of Maryland were appointed at a meeting 
of the Committee appointed by the several counties of Maryland the 22d and 25th 
days of June, 1774, “to attend a general Congress of Deputies from the Colonies 
at such time and place as may be agreed upon, to effect one general plan of con¬ 
duct operating on the commercial connection of the colonies with the Mother 
Country, for the relief of Boston and the preservation of American liberty.” 

The delegates from the colony of Virginia were appointed “at a general 
meeting of the delegates from the different counties in this colony, convened in 
the city of Willimsburg, to take under their consideration the present critical and 
alarming situation on the Continent of America.” Hon. Peyton Randolph in the 
chair, it was unanimously resolved: “That in the opinion of this meeting, it will 
be highly conducive to the security and happiness of the British Empire, that a 
General Congress of deputies from all the Colonies assemble as soon as the 
nature of their situation will admit, to consider the most proper and effectual 
manner of so operating on ‘the commercial connection of the Colonies with the 
Mother Country as to produce redress for the much injured province of Massa¬ 
chusetts Bay; to secure British America from the ravage and ruin of arbitrary 
taxes, and speedily to secure the return of that harmony and union so beneficial 
to the whole empire and so ardently desired by British America.” 

The delegates from South Carolina were appointed at “ a general meeting, 


CONTINENTAL CONGRESS. 7 

July 8th, 1774, of the inhabitants of this Colony, they having under consideration 
the Acts of Parliament lately passed with regard to the Port of Boston and Colony 
of Massachusetts Bay, as well as other American grievances, * * * to meet the 
Deputies of the other Colonies of North America in General Congress, * * * 
there to consider the Acts lately passed and bills pending in Parliament with 
regard to the Port of Boston and Colony of Massachusetts Bay, which Acts and 
Bills in the precedence and consequence affect the whole Continent of America ; 
also the grievances under which America labors by reason of the several Acts of 
Parliament that impose taxes or Duties for raising a revenue, and lay unneces¬ 
sary restraint and burdens on Trade; and of the statutes, Parliamentary Acts, 
and Ro/al instructions, which make an invidious distinction between his Majes¬ 
ty’s subjects in Great Britain and America; with full power and authority to 
concert, agree to, and effectually prosecute such measures as in the opinion of the 
said deputies and of deputies so to be assembled, shall be most likely to obtain a 
repeal of said Acts, and a redress of those grievances.” Which appointment was 
confirmed by the Commons House of Assembly, Aug. 2d, 1774. 

The delegates from North Carolina were appointed at a general meeting of 
Deputies of the inhabitants of this province at Newbern, the 25th day of August, 
1774, when it was resolved, “that we approve of the proposal of a general Con¬ 
gress * * * to deliberate upon the present state of British America, and to 
take such measures as they may deem prudent to effect the purpose of describing 
with certainty the rights of America, repairing the breach made in those rights, 
and for guarding them for the future from any such violations done under the 
sanction of Public Authority; that the Deputies attend such Congress, and they 
are thereby vested with such power as may make any act done by them, or con¬ 
sent given in behalf of this province, obligatory in honor upon every inhabitant 
thereof who is not an alien to his Country’s good, and an Apostate to the liberties 
of America.” 


THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE. 

On Friday, June 7th, 1776, the official record says in these words: 

“ Certain resolutions respecting Independency being moved and seconded : 

Resolved, That the consideration of them be deferred till to-morrow morning ; 
and that the members be enjoined to attend punctually at 10 o’clock, in order to 
take the same into consideration. 

On Saturday, June 8th, the record continues : 

Resolved, That the Resolutions respecting Independency be referred to a 
Committee of the whole Congress. 

The Congress then resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole, and after 
some time the President resumed the Chair, and Mr. Harrison, (Benj. Harrison, a 
delegate from Virginia), who was Chairman of the Committee of the Whole 
reported that “the Committee have taken into consideration the matter to them 
referred, but not having come to any resolution thereon, directed him to move 
for leave to sit again on Monday,” when it was 

Resolved , That this Congress will, on Monday next at 10 o’clock, resolve 
itself into a Committee of the Whole, to take into their further consideration the 
resolutions referred to them. 



8 


CONTINENTAL CONGRESS. 


Monday, June 10th, the Journal continues: “Agreeably to order, the Con¬ 
gress resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole, to take into further consider¬ 
ation the resolutions to them referred, and after some time spent, the President 
resumed the Chair and Mr. Harrison reported that the Committee have had 
under consideration the matter referred to them and have come to a “ resolution ” 
thereon, which they have directed him to report.” 

The “Resolution” agreed to by the Committee of the whole Congress, being 
read, to-wit: 

“That the consideration of the first ‘resolution' be postponed to Monday, the 
first day of July next; and that in the meanwhile no time be lost in case Congress 
agree thereto, that a Committee be appointed to prepare a “ Declaration ” to the 
effect of the said first resolution, which is in these woids : 

“ That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent 
States; that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British crown, and that all 
political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be 
totally dissolved .” 

The journals do not show the name of the mover of the resolutions (though 
it is generally supposed to have been Richard Henry Lee, a delegate from Vir¬ 
ginia) nor do the records give any further reference to the other resolutions 
moved on the 7th of June. 

On Tuesday the 11th. it was resolved : “ That the Committee for preparing 
the Declaration consist of five — the members chosen, Mr. Jefferson, Jr., Mr. J. 
Adams, Mr. Franklin, Mr. Sherman, and Mr. R. R. Livingston. 

It was resolved the same day : “ That a Committee be appointed to prepare 
and digest a form of a Confederation to be entered into between the Colonies.” 

And on June 12th it was resolved : “ That the Committee * * * consist 

of a member from each colony.” [The members appointed were Mr. Bartlett, N.H.; 
Mr. S. Adams, Mass.; Mr. Hopkins, R. I.; Mr. Sherman, Conn.; Mr. R. R. Living¬ 
ston, N. Y.; Mr. Dickinson, Pa.; Mr. McKean, Delaware ; Mr. Stone, Maryland ; 
Mr. Nelson, Virginia ; Mr. Hewes, N. C. ; Mr. E. Rutledge, S. C. ; Mr. Gwinnett, 
Ga.] Strange to say the name of the member from New Jersey is omitted. 

On June 25th, 1776, a declaration of Pennsylvania was laid before Congress 
and read, expressing a willingness to concur in a vote declaring the United Colo¬ 
nies free and independent States. (The delegates to Congress from Pennsylvania 
who signed the Declaration were not appointed until July 20th, 1776—sixteen 
days after its adoption.) 

No further action appears to have been taken until July 1st. Meantime the 
Colonies of Pennsylvania, Maryland and New Jersey, had apparently instructed 
their then delegates, or in some cases appointed others, to vote with other col¬ 
onies, or a majority of them, in declaiing the colonies free and independent states 

On Monday, July 1st, when the order of the day being read— 

The Congress resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole, and after some 
time the President resumed the Chair and Mr. Harrison reported: “ That the 

Committee had come to a resolution which they desired him to report, and to 
move for leave to sit again.” 

The resolution agreed to by the Committee of the Whole being read, the de- 


CONTINENTAL CONGRESS. 


9 


termination thereof was, at the request of a Colony, (Delaware ?) postponed until 
tomorrow, by the following resolution : 

“That this Congress will tomorrow resolve itself into a Committee of the 
Whole to take into consideration the Declaration respecting independence.” 

“ On this date Delaware was divided, Mr. McKean being in favor and Mr. Read 
against the Declaration; Mr. Rodney, who was in favor, being absent, Mr. 
McKean, at his private expense, dispatched an express into Delaware to acquaint 
Mr. Rodney with the delicate posture of affairs, and urge him to hasten his return 
to Philadelphia. Mr. Rodney arrived just as the members were entering the State 
House for final discussion of the subject, and entered the Hall with his spurs on 
his boots, and voted with Mr. McKean on the part of Delaware, and therein con¬ 
tributed to that unanimity among the Colonies on this great subject, without 
which a declaration had been worse than vain.” Goodrich’s Lives of the Signers. 

Tuesday, July 2d, the Congress resumed the consideration of the resolution 
reported from the Committee of the Whole, which was agreed to as follows: 

Resolved, That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to he, free and in¬ 
dependent States; that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British crown, and 
that all political connection between them and the state of Great Britain is, and 
ought to be totally dissolved. 

Agreeable to the order of the day, the Congress resolved itself into a Com¬ 
mittee of the Whole, and after some time the President resumed the Chair, and 
Mr. Harrison reported, “That the Committee have under consideration the 
Declaration to them referred, but not having had time to go through the same, 
desired him to move for leave to sit again.” When it was resolved, 

“That this Congress will tomorrow again resolve itself into a Committee 
of the Whole, to take into further consideration the Declaration respecting 
independence.” 

Wednesday, July 3d, agreeable to the order of the day, the Congress resolved 
itself into a Committee of the Whole to take into further consideration the Decla¬ 
ration, and after some time the President resumed the Chair, and Mr. Harrison 
reported that the Committee not having gone through with it, desired leave to 
sit again. 

Resolved, That this Congress will tomorrow again resolve itself into a Com¬ 
mittee of the Whole, to take into further consideration the Declaration of Inde¬ 
pendence. 

Thursday, July 4tli, agreeable to the order of the day, the Congress resolved 
itself into a Committee of the Whole, to take into their consideration the Decla¬ 
ration, and after some time the President resumed the Chair, and Mr. Harrison 
reported that the Committee have agreed to a Declaration, which they desired 
him to report. 

The Declaration being read was agreed to, as follows : 

Here follows the Declaration with the fifty-six signatures familiar to all, and 
the Journal continues: 

« The foregoing ‘ Declaration ’ was, by order of Congress, engrossed and signed 
by the following members :” 

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen United States of America, passed 
July 4th, was on the 19th ordered to be engrossed and signed by every member of 


10 


CONTINENTAL CONGRESS. 


Congress, and on August 2d, the Declaration being engrossed and compared at 
the table, was signed by the members. 

As before stated, of those who signed the Declaration, Benj. Rush, George 
Clymer, James Smith, George Taylor, George Ross of Pennsylvania, were not 
members of Congress when the Declaration was proposed, discussed and adopted, 
not having been appointed to Congress until July 20th, following; and Matthew 
Thornton of New Hampshire was not a member of Congress until Nov. 4th, fol¬ 
lowing. The name of Thos. McKean of Delaware does not appear among those 
of record in the Journals as having signed, but it is upon the Declaration itself. 

INDEPENDENCE. 

June 25, 1776, a declaration from Pennsylvania, expressing a willingness to 
concur in a vote declaring the United Colonies free and independent states, was 
laid before Congress. 

June 28, 1776, delegates from New Jersey presented credentials empowering 
them to join with the delegates from the other Colonies in declaring the United 
Colonies independent of Great Britain, etc. 

June 28, 1776, a resolution adopted was laid before Congress, authorizing the 
delegates from Maryland to concur in declaring the United Colonies free and 
independent states. 

New York, in Convention at White Plains, July 9th, 1776, “while lamenting 
the cruel necessity which rendered the measure unavoidable, unanimously agreed 
that the reasons assigned by Continental Congress for declaring the United Col¬ 
onies free and independent states, are cogent and conclusive, approve the same, 
and will at the risk of our lives and fortunes join with the other Colonies in 
supporting it.” 

INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY. 

Upon the question to celebrate the Fourth Anniversary of the Declaration of 
Independence, the vote stood aye 18, nay 13. The Chaplains to Congress were 
requested to prepare a sermon suitable for the occasion, on Sunday, July 4, 1779, 
and a Committee was appointed to prepare an entertainment for the 5th. A 
Committee was appointed June 2,1781, to take proper measures to celebrate the 
Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. 

DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE. 

January 18, 1777, an authenticated copy of the Declaration of Independence, 
with the names of the members of Congress subscribing to the same, was ordered 
sent to each of the United States, and they desired to have the same put upon 
record. 

June 29, 1780, 200 copies of the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of 
Confederation, and the Alliance between the United States and France, together 
with the Constitutions and forms of government of the several states, collected or 
published and ordered bound together in boards. 

DECLARATION. 

It has been asserted that the Declaration was adopted July 2d. The Jour¬ 
nals do not show this to be the fact. The resolution declaring “that these col¬ 
onies are, and of right ought to be free and independent states,” was adopted 


CONTINENTAL CONGRESS. 


11 


July 2d, but the Declaration of Independence was not completed and ready for 
adoption until July 4th, when it was considered in Committee of the Whole, and 
after the President had resumed the Chair, it was reported to Congress, read, and 
agreed to. July 19, 1776, it was, “ Resolved, that the declaration passed on the 
4th be fairly engrossed on parchment with the title and style of -‘The Unani¬ 
mous Declaration of the Thirteen United States of America,' -and that the 
same, when engrossed, be signed by every member of Congress. 

August 2, 1776, the Declaration of Independence being engrossed and com¬ 
pared at the table, was signed by the members.” 

PRIOR DECLARATIONS. 

The first Declaration adopted by Congress was on Friday, October 14 , 1774, 
which set forth the arbitrary proceedings of Parliament and administration, and 
declared the inhabitants of the Colonies to have their rights, among which were 
life, liberty, and property, and the immunities of free and natural born subjects 
within the realm of England, which by emigration they by no means forfeited, 
surrendered or lost; that they were entitled to a free and exclusive power of leg¬ 
islation in their own provincial legislatures and in all cases of taxation, internal 
policy, subject only to the negation of their sovereign ; the right upder the common 
law of England of being tried by their peers; the benefit of such English statutes 
as existed at the time of their colonization; to the immunities and privileges 
granted and confirmed by Royal Charter, or secured by their several codes of 
provincial laws; the right to peaceably assemble and petition the King; that 
keeping a standing army in the colonies in time of peace without the consent of 
the colony is against law; that the exercise of legislative power by a Council 
appointed by the King is unconstitutional, dangerous and destructive to the free¬ 
dom of American legislation. That the Colonies claim, demand and insist upon, 
as their undeniable rights and liberties, which cannot be legally taken from 
them, altered, or abridged, by any person whatever without their consent, by their 
representatives in their several provincial legislatures. 

Similar rights were declared by His Majesty’s Most Loyal Subjects, in the 
Non-importation Act, adopted October 20th, 1774, following, signed by fifty three 
menbers of Congress; again in the address to the people of Great Britain, adopted 
October 21st, 1774; also in the memorial to the inhabitants of the colonies, adopted 
the same day. So, too, in the address to the inhabitants of Quebec, adopted 
October 26th , wherein the rights of the Colonies were set forth; while not asking 
them to commence hostilities against the government of a common sovereign, in¬ 
vited them to not suffer themselves to be intimidated by infamous ministers, but, 
“ to unite with us in one social compact, formed on generous principles of equal 
liberty, and cemented by an exchange of beneficial and endearing offices as to 
render it perpetual, and to choose delegates to represent that province in the 
Continental Congress, to be held at Philadelphia, on the 10th day of May, 1775." 

The address to the King, adopted by the First Congress, also set forth griev¬ 
ances and rights of the Colonies in a dignified manner, and yet, while “yielding to 
no British subjects in affectionate attachments to your Majesty’s person, family 
and government, we too dearly prize the privilege of expressing that attachment 
by those proofs that are honorable to the power who receives them, and with 
people who give them, ever to resign it to any body of men upon earth.” 


CONTINENTAL CONGRESS. 


12 


The Declaration setting forth the causes for taking up arms, adopted July 6th, 
1775, was practically a Declaration of War, “not for conquest or glory, but for 
rights and liberties, for the defence of freedom, birthright and property,” with a 
pledge to lay down the arms thus assumed, “ when hostilities shall cease on the 
part of the aggressors, and all danger of their being renewed, and not before.” 

On the same day Congress adopted and issued an address from the twelve 
United Colonies to the inhabitants of Great Britain, entreating for the second 
time their serious attention “ to prevent the dissolution of the ties which bound 
them together,” and refuting the charge that the Colonies were aiming at 
independence. 

On December 26th, 1775, the Delegates of the thirteen United Colonies in 
North America, in reply to the Proclamation of the 23d of August, declared that 
they were not forgetting their allegiance, and asked, “What allegiance is it that 
we forget? Allegiance to Parliament? We never owed we never owned it. 
Allegiance to our King ? Our words have ever avowed it our conduct has ever 
been consistent with it.” 

AUTHOR OF THE DECLARATION. 

Not a little discussion has ensued as to the authorship, perhaps it would be 
better to say origin, of the Declaration of Independence, because it does not 
appear that the authorship can be claimed solely by anyone; for, while Mr. Jef¬ 
ferson may, very justly, be conceded to have been the writer or compiler, the 
Journals of Congress show almost* conclusively that he could not have been the 
author, that is the originator, for every sentiment, every protest, every assertion 
of right, contained in the Declaration can be found many times repeated in almost 
the very words in the Journals of the First Congress, and more than a year before 
Mr. Jefferson became a member of the Second Congress. So, too, the credentials 
of the members of the First Congress were singularly full of the sentiment, pro¬ 
test and assertion of the rights of the Colonists, but coupled with a plea for the 
restoration of the harmonious relations between the Colonies and the Mother 
Country. 

On this point reference can be made to the credentials of the “ Counties of 
Kent, New Castle and Sussex on Delaware ;” also to the resolutions adopted by 
the “Colonists of Massachusetts Bay,” almost the very day the First Congress 
assembled at Philadelphia ; and also to the report of the Committee appointed on 
the second day to state the “Rights of the Colonies;” to the letter of the Com¬ 
mittee of Correspondence in Boston to Congress; to the declaration and resolves 
adopted October 14th, 1774, in which was declared that the inhabitants of the 
English Colonies in North America “are entitled to life, liberty and property.” 
and also that they “have never ceded to any Sovereign power whatever, a right 
to dispose of either without their consent,” etc., and that they “are entitled to all 
the rights, liberties, and immunities of free and natural born subjects within the 
realm of England.” 

Also to the address to the people of Great Britain, October 21st, 1774; to the 
plan of association, which was unanimously adopted October 20th, 1774, and was 
signed by fifty-three—all the members of the first Congress, and the only docu¬ 
ment of Continental Congress so signed, except the Declaration of Independence; 
to the memorial to the inhabitants of Quebec; the address to the King and to the 



CONTINENTAL CONGRESS. 


13 


Declaration setting forth the necessity of taking up arms, adopted July 6th, 1775, 
or a year before the Declaration of Independence. This Declaration is said to 
have been written by John Dickinson, who was also the author of the last ad¬ 
dress to the King, and who apparently left Congress rather than sign the Decla¬ 
ration of Independence. 

All of the then documents contained much of the force of the Declaration of 
Independence, and were the expression of the Colonies anticipating that event. 

GROWTH OF INDEPENDENCE. 

It is interesting to trace the gradual growth towards independence. Decla¬ 
ration of rights, and protests against taxation without representation had previ¬ 
ously been made by some of the colonies, to-wit: 

Plymouth, in 1636, declared that no act, law or ordinance should be imposed 
without consent, or by representatives legally assembled, according to the free 
liberties of free born people of England. 

Maryland, in 1650, declared against taxes without consent, or assessed by 
their Deputies in General Assembly. 

Massachusetts, in 1661, declared that, “any imposition prejudicial to the 
country contrary to any just law of their own, not repugnant to the laws of 
England, was an infringement of their rights.” 

Rhode Island, in 1663, declared against any tax other than made by the Gen¬ 
eral Assembly of the Colony. 

Virginia, in 1676, New York, in 1691, and Massachusetts, in 1662, made similar 
declarations. 

So, it appears that the Colonists were very early imbued with the spirit of 
“no taxation without representation,” but time and the limit of this paper will 
not permit further reference, except to the Congress which assembled in New 
York, October 7th 1765. 

Mr. Pitkin, in his Civil and Political History of the United States, 1763 to 
1797, (a rare work now out of print), the author of which was a member of the 
First Colonial Congress, which met at Albany in June, 1754, and of the second 
Congress at New York, in 1766, of which, Elephalet Dyer of Connecticut, Stephen 
Hopkins of Rhode Island, R. R. Livingston and Phillip Livingston of New York, 
Caesar Rodney and Thos. McKean of Delaware, Benjamin Franklin and John 
Dickenson of Pennsylvania, Christopher Geddess, Thos. Lynch and John Rut¬ 
ledge of South Carolina, afterwards members of Continental Congress, were 
members, said: “The gentlemen selected from the several colonies for this 
memorable Congress, were no less distinguished for their talents, than their pat¬ 
riotism. They were not only acquainted with their rights, but knew how to 
assert and maintain them.” 

While the celebrated Mecklenburg resolutions, adopted in May, 1775, are 
claimed to be anterior and suggestive of the Declaration of Independence, the 
records of the First Congress, which begun in September and ended in October, 
1774, or nearly a year prior to the action taken at Mecklenburg, especially in “ the 
plan of association adopted October 21st, 1774, and in the letter to the Colonies 
of St. Johns, Nova Scotia, Georgia, East and West Florida, approved October 22d, 
1774, which said: “So rapidly violent and unjust has been the late conduct of 


14 


CONTINENTAL CONGRESS. 


the British Administration against the Colonies, that either a base or slavish 
submission under the loss of their ancient, just, and constitutional liberty must 
quickly take place, or an adequate opposition be formed.” 

“ The action of Congress, May 10th, 1775, recommending the Colonies to adopt 
such government as would best conduce to the happiness and safety of their con¬ 
stitution in particular, and America in general, was a preliminary step to a gen¬ 
eral Declaration of Independence.” 

The idea of a union of the Colonies was one of early date; it began in 1638, 
and took shape in a confederation of the United Colonies of New England, viz: 
Massachusetts, Plymouth, Connecticut—and New Hampshire in 1693. 

The general Court of Massachusetts, in 1678, in reply to an officer of customs, 
declared certain acts to be “ an invasion of the rights, liberties, and properties of 
the subjects of His Majesty in this Colony.” 

Afterward, another Confederation was proposed, during the reign of William 
and Mary, recommending a Union among the Colonies for mutual protection and 
defence; for the provinces, knowing their own condition, and one another's, 
* * * could better adjust their affairs for their common safety.” 

The Union proposed at Albany, in 1654, was rejected by the crown, “because 
it left too much power with the Colonies,” and by the Colonists, “because it vested 
too much power with the crown.” 

Says Pitkin, (Vol. 1, p. 154.): “Though the motives and views of the Colon¬ 
ists were different, yet their situation, new T places of abode, being in many 
respects similar, produced in all an energy of character and a spirit of indepen¬ 
dence unknown to the people they had left in Europe. They held their lands in 
fee simple and free from rent; or, as one said : “We are all free holders, and the 
rent day does not trouble us.” Feudal tenures were unknown in America, every 
man being a free holder, from which he derived support of himself and family, he 
had the strongest motive to defend it.” 

The independent condition of the Colonists with respect to the tenure of 
their lands; the equality wffiich existed between them; a general diffusion of 
knowledge : a share in the government, produced a love of liberty, an indepen¬ 
dence of character, and a jealousy of power, which ultimately led to that revolu 
tion which placed them among the nations of the earth.” 

Some of the first acts w T hich appear in the records of most of the Colonies 
declare, “That no man’s life shall be taken away; no man’s honor or good name 
be stained; no man’s person be arrested, restrained, banished, or in any way 
punished; that no man’s goods or estate be taken away from him, or in any way 
endangered, unless by virtue of some express law of the colony warranting the 
same, established by the general court and sufficiently published.” 16., 889. 

DELEGATES NOT SIGNERS. 

As before stated, the American people are apt to look at the work done 
during the Revolution by Continental Congress through the eyes of the signers, 
many of whom owe their distinction in history to the fact, and only to the fact 
that they happened to be members of only the ’76 or Independence Congress. 
On the other hand, the real workers of the Continental Congress, to whom much 
of securing independence of the colonies, and their place among the Nations, is 
due, are a greater number than those who actually signed the Declaration itself. 


CONTINENTAL CONGRESS. 


15 

From New Hampshire—Sullivan and Folsom were members of 3 Congresses; 
John Langdon, (first Presideot of the United States Senate, for the sole purpose 
of opening and counting the votes cast at the first election for President,) and 
George Frost, were members of 2; John Wentworth, Peabody, Woodbury, 
Woodbury Langdon, Livermore and Gilman were members of 1, but not signers. 

From Massachusetts Bay—Cushing, Dana, Lovell and Partridge were mem¬ 
bers of 2; Ward, Osgood, Lowell and Jackson were members of 1, but not 
signers. 

From Rhode Island and Providence Plantations—Marchant and Connell 
were members of 3; Ward and Collins of 2 ; Varnum, Mowry, Howell and Arnold 
of 1, but not signers. 

From Connecticut—Dyer was a member of 5; Ellsworth, Root and Hunt¬ 
ington of 3 ; Dean, Hosmer and William Lord of 2 ; Sturgis and Adams of 1, but 
not signers. 

From New York—Duane was a member of 6; Jay of 5; Schuyler and R. R. 
Livingston of 4; Alsop and Morris of 3; Boreman, Clinton, Duer, L’Hommedieu 
and Scott of 2; Henning, Low and McDougall of 1, but not signers. 

From New Jersey—-Elmer was a member of 6; Boudinot of 5; Livingston, 
Wisner, Smith and Scudder of 3; Kinsey, DeHart and Crane of 2; Seargeant 
and Cooper of 1, but not signers. 

From Pennsylvania—Biddle was a member of 5; Alter of 4; Humphrey, 
Dickinson, Smith, Armstrong, Roberdeau, John B. Smith and Reed of 3; Mifflin, 
Willing, Montgomery, Allen, Searle, Shippen, McClure and Muhlenberg of 2; 
Galloway, Rhodes, Clingan, Duffield, Wynkoop, Ingersoll and Matlock of 1, but 
not signers. 

From Delaware—VanDyke was a member of 6, and Dickenson of 2; Evans, 
Sykes, T. Rodney, T. Dickenson and Wharton of 1, but not signers. 

From Maryland—Jenifer was a member of 4; Tighlman, Plater and Hanson 
of 3; Alexander, Ramsey, Forbes, Henry, Carroll, Wright and Potts of 2; Gold- 
boro, Hall, Tighlman, Smith, Hennisley and Carmichael of 1, but not signers. 

From Virginia—Jones was a member of 4; Pendleton of 3; Randolph, 
Washington, Bland, Arthur Lee, Walker, Hawes, Smith and Thos. Bland of 2; 
Patrick Henry, Page, Mason, Fitzhugh, Griffin, Adams, Bannister, Mercer, James 
Madison, J. Henry, Fleming and Randolph of 1, but not signers. 

From North Carolina—Burke was a member of 4 ; Harnett and Hill of 3 ; N. 
C. Harnett, Caswell, Hawkins and Blount of 2; Williams, A. Jones, W. Jones, 
Sharpe, Johnson, Williamson and Nash of 1, but not signers. 

From South Carolina—John Rutledge was a member of 4; Mathews of 3; 
Middleton, Gadsden, Laurens and Hutson of 2; Drayton, Kinlock, Motter, Eve- 
leigh, Boring, Izard and Gervaise of 1, but not signers. Middleton and Laurens 
also served as Presidents. 

From Georgia—Hall, Telfair and Walton were members of 4; Fero of 3; 
Bullock, Horton, Brownson, Woods and Clay of 2; Zubley, Jones, Walton and 
Howley of 1, but not signers. 

Hall, (who represented only one county in two Congresses), Gwinett and 
Walton were signers. Bullock, Horton and Brownson appear to have been mem¬ 
bers of the 76 Congress, but not signers. 


CONTINENTAL CONGRESS. 


16 


James Duane of New York, Jon it ha n Elmer of New Jersey, and Nicholas 
VanDyke, each served in six Congresses, (longer than any other members, except 
Roger Sherman of Connecticut, Thos. McKean of Delaware, and Col. Wm. Floyd 
of New York), and yet were not signers. 


MEMBERS. 

The total number of members of Continental Congress from 1774 to 1783, in¬ 
clusive, was 233, viz : New Hampshire, 12 ; Massachusetts, 13 ; Rhode Island, 10; 
Connecticut 14 ; New York, 19; New Jersey, 21; Pennsylvania, 32; Delaware, 10; 
Maryland, 2($; Virginia, 29; North Carolina, 17 ; South Carolina, 20; and Georgia, 
15; an average of about 30 per year. Of these, 

There were twelve from New Hampshire, to-wit: 


Major John Sullivan, 1774-75-81. 
Col. Nathaniel Folsom, 1774-78-79. 
John Langdon, 1775-76. 

Col. Isaiah Bartlett, 1775-76-77-78. 
William Whipple, 1776-77. 
Matthew Thornton, 1776-77. 


George Frost, 1777-78. 
John Wentworth, Jr., 1778. 

-Peabody, 1779. 

Woodbury Langdon, 1779. 
Samuel Livermore, 1781. 
John Gilman, 1781. 


Bartlett, Whipple and Thornton were signers of the Declaration. Thornton 
did not appear in the Congress of *76, but took his seat in November following, as 
a member of the succeeding Congress. 

Wentworth, Gilman, Peabody, Langdon and Livermore were each members 
of but one Congress. Langdon was a member of the '76 Congress, but not a 
signer. The Christian name of Mr. Peabody does not appear of record. 

There were thirteen members from Massachusetts Bay, to-wit • 


Hon. Thos. Cushing, 1774-75. 

John Adams, 1774-75-76-77-78. 

Mr. Samuel Adams, 1774-75-76-77-80. 
Robert Treat Paine, 1775-76-77-78. 
John Hancock, 1775-76-77-78. 
Elbridge Gerry, 1776-77. 

Francis Dana, 1777-78. 


James Lovell, 1777-78. 
George Partridge, 1779-82. 
Artemas Ward, 1781. 
Samuel Osgood, 1782. 

John Lowell, 1783. 
Jonathan Jackson, 1783. 


Of these, John Adams, Samuel Adams, Robert T. Paine, John Hancock and 
Elbridge Gerry were signers of the Declaration. John Adams was the first Vice 
President, and second President; Elbridge Gerry the sixth Vice President; 
Artemas Ward was the second Major-General of the Army. 

There were ten members from Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, 
to-wit: 


Hon. Stephen Hopkins, 1774-75-76. 
Hon. Samuel Ward, 1774-75. 
William Ellery, 1775-76-77-78-81. 
William Marchant, 1777-78-79. 
John Collins, 1778-80. 


Ezekiel Conwell, 1780-81-82. 
Joseph M. Varnum, 1780. 

-Mowry, 1781. 

David Howell, 1783. 

John Arnold, 1783. 


Of these, Stephen Hopkins and William Ellery were signers of the Declara - 
tion. The Christian name of Mowry does not appear. 

There were fourteen members from Connecticut, to-wit: 





CONTINENTAL CONGRESS. 


IT 


The Hon.Eliphalet Dyer,Esq.,1774-75 
77-78-83. 

Roger Sherman, 1774-75-76-77-78-79 
80-81. 

Silas Deane, 1774-75. 

Jonathan Sturgis, 1775. 

Titus Hosmer, 1776-78. 

Oliver Wolcott, 1776-77-78-80-81. 


Samuel Huntington, 1776-77-78. 
William Williams, 1776-77. 
Richard Lord, 1777-81. 

Oliver Ellsworth, 1778-79-81. 
Andrew Adams, 1778. 

Jesse Root, 1778-79-80. 

Benjamin Huntington, 1779-80-83; 
Joseph Spencer, 1779. 


Of these, Roger Sherman, Oliver Wolcott, Samuel Huntington and William 
Williams were signers of the Declaration. 

Titus Hosmer appears to have been a member of the 76 Congress, but not a 
signer. Silas Deane was Minister to France, but was recalled under a cloud. 
Oliver Ellsworth afterward became Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. 

There were nineteen members from New York, to-wit: 


Col. William Floyd, 1774-75-76-78-79 
80-82. 

S. Boreman, 1774-75. 

John Henning, 1774. 

Henry Wisner, 1774-75-76. 

James Duane, 1774-75-76-78-81-82. 
John Jay, 1774-75-76-78-79. 

Philip Livingston, 1774-75-76-77. 
Gouverneur Morris, 1774-78-79. 

Isaac Low, 1774. 


John Alsop, 1774-75-76. 

Philip Schuyler, 1775-77-78-80. 
George Clinton, 1775-76. 

Lewis Morris, 1775-76-77-78-79. 
Francis Lewis, 1775-76-77-78-80. 
R. R. Livingston, 1775-76-79-84. 
William Duer, 1777-78. 

Ezra L’Hommedieu, 1779-81. 
John M. Scott, 1780-82. 
Alexander McDougal, 1780. 


William Floyd, Philip Livingston, Lewis Morris and Francis Lewis were 
signers of the Declaration. 

John Jay, John Alsop, George Clinton, James Duane, Henry Wisner and R. 
R. Livingston appear to have been members of the ’76 Congress, but not signers. 
George Clinton was a member until a short time previous to the adoption of the 
Declaration. 

John Jay—afterward first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the United 
States—had the distinguished honor of being the only delegate in Continental 
Congress who was especially authorized to act alone as a quorum from his State. 

R. R. Livingston was not only a member of the ’76 Congress, but also a mem¬ 
ber of the Committee to draft the Declaration, as well as the Articles of Confed¬ 
eration, but he did not vote for or sign the Declaration, and disappeared for a 
time from Congress. 

Henry Wisner, as a delegate from the county of Orange, New Y"ork, entered 
Congress September 14th, 1774, and appears to have served continuously, until 
after July 4th, 1776. He does not appear to have been a prominent member, 
and his name is not of frequent record; his last service being upon a Committee 
appointed June 28th, 1776, on the subject of manufacturing sulphur. The record 
shows that he was in Congress July 4th, and apparently voted for the Declaration, 
but he is not of record as a signer, as on the 4tli he was “ impowered to send a 
man at public expense to Orange County for a sample of flint stones,” and on the 
16th July was “impowered to employ a proper person to manufacture flint 
stones.” 

Goodrich in his “Lives of the Signers,” states in his record of the New York 
delegation in regard to Henry Wisner : “ This gentleman was present when Con- 




18 


CONTINENTAL CONGRESS. 


gress expressed tlieir approbation of the Declaration of Independence and voted 
in favor of it. But before the engrossed copy was signed by the several mem¬ 
bers, Mr. Wisner left Congress, and thus failed of affixing his name to the memor¬ 
able instrument.” The Journals show the name to have been Henry Wisner, not 
Misner, as Goodrich has it. Thos. McKean, a delegate and afterward President 
of Congress, in a letter dated September 26tli, 1790, states Mr. Wisner voted for 
independence. 

There were twenty-one members from New Jersey, to-wit: 


James Kinsey, 1774-75. 

William Livingston, 1774-75-76. 

John DeHart, 1774-75. 

Stephen Crane, 1774-75. 

Richard Smith, 1774-75-76. 

Richard Stockton, 1776. 

John D. Sergeant, 1776. 

Dr. John Witherspoon, 1776-77-78-80 
’82. 

Abraham Clark, 1776-77-78-80-82. 
Jonathan Elmer, 1776-77-78-81-82-83. 


John Cooper, 1776. 

John Hart, 1776. 

Francis Hopkinson, 1776. 
Nathaniel Scudder, 1777-78-79. 

E. Boudinot, 1777-78-79-81-82. 
Frederick Frelinghuysen, 1778 79. 
John Fell, 1778. 

John Neilson, 1778. 

W. C. Houston, 1779 80-81-82. 

W. Burnett, 1780. 

-Condit, 1782. 


Of these, Richard Stockton, Dr. John Witherspoon, Abraham ('lark, John 
Hart and Francis Hopkinson were signers of the Declaration. 

William Livingston, Richard Smith, John D. Sergeant, Jonathan Elmer and 
John Cooper were members of the ’76 Congress, but not signers. Jonathan 
Elmer served six years in Continental Congress, yet was not a signer. The Chris¬ 
tian name of Mr. Condit does not appear. Of the signers, Stockton, Hart and 


Hopkinson were members of only the 
There were thirty-three members 

The Hon. James Galloway, 1774. 
Samuel Rhodes, 1774. 

Thomas Mifflin, 1774-75. 

Chas. Humphrey, 1774-75-76. 

John Morton, 1774-75-76. 

Edward Biddle, 1774-75-78-79-80. 
George Ross, 1774-75-76. 

John Dickinson, 1774-75-76. 

Hon. Thomas Willing, 1775-76. 
Andrew Allen, 1775-76. 

Benjamin Franklin, 1775-76-77. 
Robert Morris, 1775-76-77. 
Benjamin Rush, 1776. 

Geo. Taylor, 1776, 

James Smith, 1776-78. 

Thomas Smith, 1776-80-82. 

James Wilson, 1776-77-80-82. 


'76 Congress. 

from Pennsylvania, to-wit: 

Geo. Clymer, 1776-78-81-82. 
William Clingan, 1777. 

Dr. Samuel Duffield, 1777. 
Daniel Roberdeau, 1777-78-79. 
John B. Smith, 1777-78-79. 
Joseph Reed, 1777-78-79. 

Wm. Shippen, 1778-79. 

James Searle, 1778-79. 

John Armstrong, 1778-79-80. 
Samuel Alter, 1778-79-80-82. 
Henry Wynkoop, 1779. 

Jos. McClure, 1779-80. 

Fred Muhlenburg, 1779-80. 
Jared Ingersoll, 1780. 

F. Matlock, 1780. 

Joseph Montgomery, 1780-82. 


John Morton, George Ross, Benjamin Franklin, James Wilson, Robert Morris, 
George Clymer, Benjamin Rush, James Smith and Geo. Taylor were signers of 
the Declaration, though Rush and Taylor were members only of the ’76 Congress, 
and not until after the Declaration was adopted. 

(Wilson was probably the author of the Judiciary system, and was one of the 
first members of the Supreme Court of the United States.) 




CONTI NEST A L CONGRESS. 


19 


l 


(Humphrey, Biddle, Dickinson, Willing, Thos. Smith and Allen were mem 
bers of the \6 Congress, but not signers.) John Dickenson, known as the 
“Pennsylvania Parmer,” was among the ablest of Continental Congress, and 
author of many of the ablest papers in 1774-75 and ’76, but apparently opposed to 
the Declaration, and retired from Congress rather than sign it. 

(Galloway, Rhodes, Wynkoop, Ingersoll, Rush, Matlock, Taylor, Clingan, Dr. 
Duffield and McClure, were each members of but one Congress.) 

There were ten members from Delaware, or the counties of Kent. Sussex, and 
New Castle on Delaware, as the Colony was known -being under the executive or 
Governor of Pennsylvania, though having a separate legislature—to-wit: 


The Hon. Caesar Rodney,Esq., 1774-75 1 
76-78-81. 

Thomas McKean, 1774-75-76-77-78 
79-81-82. 

George Read, 1774-75-76. 

John Evans, 1776. 


James Sykes, 1776. 

Nicholas VanDyke,1776-78-79-80-81-82 
John Dickinson, 1779-82. 

Thomas Rodney, 1782. 

Philemon Dickinson, 1782. 

Samuel Wharton, 1782. 


Rodney, McKean and Read were signers. Evans, VanDyke, (a member for 
six years), and Sykes appear to have been members of the ’76 Congress, but not 
signers. McKean’s name does not appear among the signers, as publishad in the 
Journal, and yet his signature is upon the Declaration itself, and as before stated, 
but for his exertions in securing the presence of Mr.Rodney, Delaware would not 
then have signed the Declaration ; hence its adoption by the Colonies would not 
have been unanimous. He has the rare distinction of having served longer than 
any other member of Congress, to-wit: from ’ J4 to '82. (Evans, Thomas Rodney, 
Philemon Dickinson and Samuel Wharton appear to each have been members of 
but one Congress.) 


There were twenty-one members from Maryland, to-wit: 


Robert Goldsboro, 1774. 

William Paca, 1774-75-76-77-78-80. 
Samuel Chase, 1774-75-76-77-78. 
John Hall, 1775. 

Thomas Stone, 1775-76-77-78. 
Robert Alexander, 1775-76. 

John Rogers did not attend. 
Charles Carroll, 1776-77-78. 
Benjamin Ramsey, 1776-77. 
Matthew Tighlman, 1776. 

William Smith, 1778. 


George Plater, 1778-79-80. 

James Forbes, 1778-79. 

John Henry, Jr., 1778-80. 

Daniel St. J. Jenifer, 1778-79-80-81. 
John Hanson, 1780-81-82. 

Daniel Carroll, 1781-82. 

Turbutt Wright, 1781-82. 

Richard Potts, 1781-82. 

William Hennesley, 1782. 

William Carmichael, 1782. 


William Paca, Samuel Chase, Thomas Stone and Clias. Carroll (the last sur¬ 
vivor of all those who signed the Declaration) were signers. Matthew Tighlman, 
Robert Alexander and Benjamin Ramsey appear to have been members of the ’76 
Congress, but not signers. (Carmichael, Hennesley and Smith were each mem¬ 
bers of but one Congress.) 

There were twenty-nine members from Virginia, to-wit: 





20 


CONTINENTAL CONGRESS. 


Hon. Peyton Randolph, Esq., 1774-75. 
George Washington, 1774-75. 

Patrick Henry, 1774. 

Richard Bland, 1774-75. 

Benjamin Harrison, 1774-75-76-77. 
Edmund Pendleton, 1774-75-79. 
Richard Henry Lee, 1774-75-76-77-78 
’79. 

Thomas Jefferson, 1775-76. 

Thomas Nelson, Jr., 1775-76-79. 
George Wythe, 1775-76. 

Francis Lightfoot Lee, 1775-76-77. 
Arthur Lee, 1776-82. 

Carter Braxton, 1776. 

Mason Page, 1777. 


Joseph Jones, 1777-80-81-82. 
George Mason, 1777. 

John Harvie, 1777-1778. 
James Fitzhugh, 1778. 

Cyrus Griffin, 1778. 

Thomas Adams, 1778. 

John Bannister, 1778. 

John Walker, 17 r « 8—80. 
Meriwether Smith, 1778-81. 
Joseph Mercer, 1779, 

James Madison, Jr., 1780. 
James Henry, 1780. 

W. Flemming, 1780. 

Thomas Bland, 1780-82. 
Edmund Randolph, 1781. 


Harrison, Richard Henry Lee, Jefferson, Nelson, Wythe, Francis Lightfoot 
Lee and Braxton were signers. 

Arthur Lee appears to have been a member of the ’76 Congress, but not a 
signer. (Patrick Henry, Braxton, Page, Mason, Hewes, Griffin, Madison, James 
Henry, Flemming, Mercer and Fitzhugh were each members of but one 
Congress.) 

There were seventeen members from North Carolina, to-wit: 


William Hooper, 1774-75-76-77. 
Joseph Hewes, 1774-75-76-77-79. 
Richard Caswell, 1774-75. 

John Penn, 1775-76-77-78-79. 
Thomas Burke, 1777-78-79-80. 
Cornelius Harnett, 1777-78-79. 
John Williams, 1778. 

Whitwell Hill, 1778-79-80. 

N. C. Harnett, 1778-79. 


Allen Jones, 1779. 

Willis Jones, 1780. 

William Sharpe, 1780. 
Samuel Johnson, 1780. 
Benjamin Hawkins, 1781-82. 
Hugh Williamson, 1782. 
Abner Nash, 1782. 

William Blount, 1782-83. 


William Hooper, Joseph Hewes and John Penn were signers. (Jones, John¬ 
son, Williamson, Nash and Allen Jones were members of but one Congress.) 
Thomas Burke has the peculiar distinction of being the only member of Conti¬ 
nental Congress who was guilty of an act requiring a reprimand or action of 
Congress. 


There were twenty members from South Carolina, to-wit: 


Henry Middleton, 1774-75. 
Edward Rutledge, 1774-75-76. 
John Rutledge, 1774-75-76-82. 
Christopher Gadsden, 1775-76. 
Thomas Lynch, Jr., 1775-76. 
Arthur Middleton, 1776-77. 
Thomas Hey wood, Jr., 1776-77. 
John Mathews, 1776-78-79. 
Chas. C. Pinckney, 1777. 

Paul Tropen, 1777. 


Henry Laurens, 1777-78. 
Richard Hutson, 1778-80. 
William Drayton, 1779. 
Francis Kinloch, 1780. 
Thomas Bee, did not attend. 
Isaac Motte, 1780. 

Nick Eveleigh, 1781. 

David Ramsay, 1782. 

Ralph Izard. i782. 

John L. Gervaise, 1782. 


Lynch, Arthur Middleton, Heywood and Edward Rutledge were signers. 
Rutledge was named, but not confirmed Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of 
the United States. John Rutledge, Gadsden and John Mathews appear to have 
been members of the ’76 Congress, but not signers. 





CONTINENTAL CONGRESS. 


21 


(Tropen, Drayton, Kinloch, Motte, Eveleigh and Ramsay were each members 
of but one Congress.) 

There were fifteen members from Georgia, to-wit: 


Lyman Hall, 1775-76-77-78. 
Archibald Bullock, 1775-76, 

John Horton, 1775-76. 

Rev. Dr. Zubley, 1775. 

Noble W. Jones, 1775. 

Button Gwinnett, 1776-79. 

George Walton, 1776-77-78-80. 
Arthur Brownson, 1776-77. 

Hall, (who represented 
Walton were signers, 
bers of the ’76 
each members of but one Congress.) 


Edward Langworthy, did not attend. 
Joseph Wood, 1777—78. 

Joseph Clay, 1777-78. 

John Walton, 1778. 

Edward Telfair, 1778-80-81-82. 
William Fero, 1778-80-82. 

Richard Howlev, 1780. 


one county only in two Congresses,) Gwinnett and 
Bullock, Horton and Brownson appear to have been mem- 
Congress, but not signers. (Zubley, J. Walton and Howley were 


From the foregoing it appears that there were eighty-eight members of the 
’76 Congress, viz; 

New Hampshire, 4 ; Massachusetts, 5; Rhode Island, 2; Connecticut, 5 ; 
New York, 9; New Jersey, 11; Pennsylvania, 14; Delaware, 7; Maryland,!; 
Virginia, 8 ; North Carolina, 3; South Carolina, 7; Georgia, 6. Of these but 
fifty-six signed the Declaration. 

John Langdon, New Hampshire ; Titus Hosmer, Connecticut; James Duane, 
John Jay, John Alsop, George Clinton, and R. R. Livingston, (one of the Com¬ 
mittee,) New York; Win. Livingston, John DeHart, Richard Smith, John D. 
Seargent, Jonathan Elmer, John Cooper, Henry Wisner, New Jersey; Charles 
Humphrey, Edward Biddle, John Dickinson, Hon. Thos. Willing, Thomas Smith, 
Andrew^ Allen, of Pennsylvania; John Evans, Nicholas VanDyke, James Sykes, 
Delaware ; Matthew Tighlman, Robert Alexander, Benjamin Ramsey, Maryland ; 
Arthur Lee, Virginia; John Rutledge, Christopher Gadsden, John Mathews, 
South Carolina; Arthur Bullock, John Horton, Arthur Brownson, Georgia— 
thirty-two in all—appear to have been members of the '76 Congress, but not 
signers of the Declaration. 

Some, doubtless, never accepted their appointment; others were absentees, 
of whom Congress requested the Colonies more than once to attend, and whose 
absence was anticipated when their credentials were made to read: “ Any one or 
more shall be deemed to be a quorum to represent this Colony.” 

Wentworth, Gilman, Peabody, Langdon and Livermore, New Hampshire; 
Ward, Partridge, Osgood, Lowell and Jackson, Massachusetts; Varnum, Mowry^ 
Howell and Arnold, Rhode Island; Sturgis, Adams and Spencer, Connecticut; 
Henning, Low and McDougal, New York; Stockton, Seargent, Hopkinson, 
Cooper, Hart, Fell, Condit, Nelson and Burnett, New Jersey; Galloway, Rhodes, 
Wyncoop, Allen, Ingersoll, Rush, Matlock, Taylor, Duffield and McClure, Penn¬ 
sylvania ; Carmichael, H3nnesley, Kinlock and Smith, Maryland; Evans, Rodney, 
P. Dickinson and Wharton, Delaware; Patrick Henry, Braxton, Page, Mason, 
Hewes, Griffen, Madison, Jos. Henry, Fleming, Mercer and Fitzhugh, Virginia; 




CONTINENTAL CONGRESS. 


99 


Jones, Johnson, Williamson, Nash and Allen Jones, North Carolina; Tropen, 
Drayton, Kinlock, Motte, Eveleigh and Ramsay, Sontli Carolina; Zubley, Walton 
and Howley, Georgia—seventy in all ; each appear to have been members of only 
one Congress. 

Rogers of Maryland ; Bee of South Carolina, and Langworthy of Georgia, do 
not appear to have accepted their appointments or to have been present at either 
Congress. 

South Carolina.— In November, 75, Congress advised that if it be found neces¬ 
sary by the Convention, then apparently in session, to establish a form of govern¬ 
ment in that “Colony,” it be recommended to that Convention to call a full and 
free representation of the people, to establish such a form of government as will 
“produce the happiness of the people, and most effectually secure peace and good 
order in the Colony during the continuance of the present disputes between 
Great Britain and the Colonies.” 

Upon a report being received that a treaty of peace between America and 
Great Britain was about to take place, and that these two States (South Carolina 
and Georgia) would be celed to Greit Britain, Congress unanimously resolved, 
that, “said report is insidious and utterly without foundation.” “That this con¬ 
federacy is sacredly pledged to support the liberty and independence of every 
one of its me nbers; and in a firm reliance upon the Divine blessing, will unre¬ 
mittingly persevere in their exertions for the establishment of the same, and also 
for the recovery and preservation of any and every part of the United States that 
has been or may hereafter be invaded or possessed by the common enemy.” 

Nova Scotia.— It appears that this Colony had at one time under serious con¬ 
sideration the project of becoming united with the thirteen colonies. Some of the 
people of that colony having, in November, 17 io, appointed a Committee of Safety, 
“ and by petition, applied to Congress to be admitted into the Association of the 
United Colonies for the preservation of their rights and liberties.” Later, Con¬ 
gress appointed an agent, John Allen, to treat with the Indians in Nova Scotia 
and tribes North and East thereof. 

Inhabitants.— In November, 1781, the States were requested to enumerate 
the number of white inhabitants pursuant to the Articles of confederation. 

Congress, also, once directed that the quota of each Colony be determined 
according to the number of inhabitants of all ages, including negroes and 
mulattces. 

White. In determining the mode of voting under the Articles of Confeder¬ 
ation, it was proposed that Rhode Island, Delaware and Geoigia have one vote for 
every 50,000 white inhabitants therein, which was negatived, and resolved that 
each State should have one vote. 

Among the objections to the Articles of Confederation, New Jersey requested 
that the word “white” be stricken out of the 9th Article, on the ground that as 
the Declaration stated that “‘all men are created equal,' all the inhabitants of 
every society, be their complexion what it may, are bound to promote the inter¬ 
est the:e >f, according to their respective abilities.” On the question to expunge 
the word “white,” the vote stood : three colonies voted aye ; seven voted no ; one 
was divided. 

South Carolina proposed that Article 4 should be made to read, “free white 


CONTINENTAL CONGRESS. 


23 


inhabitants,” instead of “ free inhabitants,” which was rejected : two ayes; eight 
nays; one divided. 

NEGROES—THE IRONY OF HISTORY. 

During the late Rebellion, Negroes played their part; so did the Negroes 
during the Revolution, for on January, 16,1776, Congress resolved, “that the free 
negroes who have served faithfully in the army at Cambridge may be re-enlisted, 
but no others.” 

The Committee on “Ways and Means, and Safety and defence of the South¬ 
ern States,” made a report that the Continental troops were insufficient for their 
defence, and upon request of South Carolina, recommended the raising of 3,000 
able bodied negroes, not only as a means of defence, but also for the purpose of 
preventing insurrection among the negroes and their desertion to the enemy, and 
that they be formed into separate corps and commanded by white commissioned 
and non-commissioned officers. 

It was suggested in Congress by the delegates of South Carolina, that a force 
might be raised in said State from among the negroes, which would not only be 
formidable to the enemy, from their numbers and the discipline of which they 
would very readily admit, but would also lessen the danger of revolt and deser¬ 
tions by detaching the most vigorous and enterprising from among the negroes ; 
whereupon, March 29, 1779, it was resolved, 

“ That it be recommended to the States of South Carolina and Georgia, if 
they should think the same expedient, to take measures immediately for raising 
3,000 able bodied negroes. That said negroes be formed into separate corps, as 
battalions, according to the arrangements adopted for the main army, to be com¬ 
manded by white commissioned and non-commissioned officers. 

“That the commissioned officers be appointed by the said States. 

“That the non-commissioned officers may, if the said States think proper, be 
taken from among the non-commissioned officers and soldiers of the Continental 
battalions of said States, respectively. 

“ That the Governors of said States, together with the commanding officers of 
the Southern Army, be empowered to incorporate the several battalions of their 
States with each other, respectively, agreeable to the arrangement of the army, as 
established by resolutions of May 27th, 1778, and to appoint such supernumerary 
officers to command the said negroes as shall choose to go into that service. 

“That Congress will make provisions for paying the proprietors of such 
negroes as shall be enlisted for the service of the United States during the war, 
a full compensation for the property, at the rate of not exceeding $1,000 for each 
active, able bodied negro man of standard size, not exceeding 35 years of age, 
who shall be so enlisted and pass muster. 

“ That no pay or bounty be allowed to the said negroes, but that they shall 
be clothed and subsisted at the expense of the United States. 

“ That every negro who shall well and faithfully serve as a soldier to the end 
of the present war, and then shall return his arms, shall be emancipated , and 
receive the sum of $50.” 

The First Fugitive Slave Law, to-wit: “ On the re-capture, by a citizen, of 
any negro, * * * or other person from whom labor or service is lawfully 

claimed by another citizen, specific restitution shall be adjudged the claimant, 


24 


CONTINENTAL CONGRESS. 


whether the original capture shall be on land or water, and a reasonable salvage 
shall be paid by the claimant to the re-captor not exceeding one-fourth part of 
the value of such labor or service, to be estimated according to the law of the 
State of which the claimant shall be a citizen; but if the service of such negro, 
* * * captured below high water mark, shall not be claimed by a citizen of 
these United States, he shall be set at liberty,” * * * was passed September 
27th, 1781, by a vote of 10 ayes, 2 nays—New Hampshire absent. 

This vote was upon the second reading, the third reading being postponed 
twice, and again, on September 27,1781,—Vol. vii., p. 193—was, on motion, de¬ 
clared out of order, and does not appear to have been considered. The index of 
the Journals indicate, however, that the paragraph was afterward adopted. 

April 6, 1776, it was resolved that no slaves be imported into any of the 
United States. 

UNIFORMS. 

A Continental uniform, so-called, appears to be mythical. It was difficult 
enough to get clothing of any kind for the service without regard to quality, 
style, or uniformity. There was apparently a disposition on the part of some 
officers to imitate the British uniform, hence Congress resolved that it was neces¬ 
sary for the Republic to discourage extravagance and promote economy by public 
officers, and prohibited any officer in the service from wearing any gold or silver 
lace, embroidery or vellum, other than as directed by the Commander-in-Chief, 
or from wearing any uniform usually worn by the British Army or Navy. 

CLOTHING. 

It was recommended to each of the United Colonies to cause a suit of clothes, 
of which the waistcoat and breeches may be of deer leather, if it be had on reason¬ 
able terms, not to exceed sixteen dollars per pair, a blanket, felt hat, two shirts, 
two pair of hose, and two pair of shoes, to be prepared for each soldier of the 
American Army from the respective Colonies ; the same to be baled, invoiced and 
stored for delivery to the order of Congress or the Commander-in-Chief. 

Suit of clothing shall consist of 1 hat, 1 watch coat, 1 body coat, 4 vests, (1 
for winter, 3 for summer,) 4 pair breeches, (2 for winter and 2 for summer,) 4 shirts, 
4 socks, 6 pair stockings, (3 worsted and 3 thread,) 4 pair shoes. 

Congress also appointed a Committee of one delegate from each Colony, to 
emyloy persons to purchase blankets and woolens fit for soldiers’ clothes, and to 
take speedy methods for getting such made up and distributed among the regular 
“Continental Army.” 

It was required that as much as possible the cloth for this purpose be dyed 
brown, and the distinctions of the regiments be made in the facings; also, that 
“the man who brings a new blanket into camp be allowed two dollars therefor, 
and take it away at the end of the camp.” 

In 1777, a quantity of woolens fit for clothing the Army having been brought 
into Baltimore by a privateer, the board of War was directed to obtain the same 
and make into soldiers’ clothes as soon as possible. 

In the same year, the Commissioners to France having failed to secure clothes 
for 80,000 men before the winter, and other means adopted by Congress for im¬ 
porting clothing having also failed, Washington was authorized to obtain the 


CONTINENTAL CONGRESS. 


25 


necessary supplies from disaffected citizens. Congress being of the opinion that 
well disposed people of the States will be pleased than otherwise, when the ene¬ 
mies shall be compelled to supply that which is essential to the comfort and 
support of the Army. 

June 10th, 1778, Congress requested Governor Henry of Virginia, to purchase 
a list of ai tides, part of a cargo of a French ship, as cheap as he can, but not 
exceeding a rate of 450 pounds sterling Virginia money for every 100 pounds ster¬ 
ling, to be paid in tobacco at $10 per hundred. The list included leaden bullets, 
different sizes, men's silk and woolen stockings, woolen caps, uniform buttons, 
red cadis for lining, coarse and fine shirts, woolen blankets, soldiers’ hats, clcthes, 
fine for officers, coarse for soldiers, brass inkstands, white flannel, sewing thread, 
linen spatter dashers for soldiers, handkerchiefs, powder, flints, wristbands for 
shirts, scarlet, and sky-blue serget, brown and white linings, sewing silk, shoes, 
knapsacks, brown and white linens, white Malaga in cans, red Burgundy in cases, 
claret in casks, and white wine vinegar. 

September 6, 1777, Congress established the following uniform for soldiers, 


and the prices for the same : 

1 Regimental coat. $8 60-90 dollars. 

1 Jacket, without sleeves. 2 60-90 “ 

1 Pair buckskin, 2 pair linen or woolen breeches. 8 00 “ 

1 Hat, or leather cap. 2 60-90 “ 

2 Shirts. 800 

1 Hunting shirt. 4 00 “ 

2 Pair over alls. 6 00 “ 

2 Pair stockings. 4 00 “ 

2 Pair shoes. 6 00 “ 

1 Blanket. 6 00 “ 


Making in all.$56 00 


WESTERN BOUNDARY AND LANDS. 

A proposition made October 13th, 1777, that the United States shall have the 
sole and exclusive right and power to ascertain and fix the Western boundary of 
such States as claim to the Mississippi or South Sea, and lay out the land beyond 
the boundary so ascertained, into separate and independent States, from time to 
time, as the numbers and circumstances of the people thereof may require, was 
defeated by the votes of nine States in the negative ; one State voted in affirma¬ 
tion, one State divided, and two States not voting. 

Congress asked the States to not dispose of any portion of Western lands 
claimed by them, but unappropriated at Declaration of Independence, as it would 
be attended with great mischief. 

Delegates from Maryland declined to ratify the confederation until matters 
respecting Western lands be settled on principles of equality and sound policy. 

Western lands purchased of Indians were ordered to be valued every five 
years, for the benefit of common treasury. 

The Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Vandalia, and Wabash land Companies early 
claimed the attention of Congress, and with the more absorbing question s of Ter¬ 
ritorial claims, Territorial cession, and Vermont, as it was then termed, required 














0ONTTNENTA L CONGRESS. 


26 

the best efforts of the strongest men in the several Congresses to, as they did, 
finally and satisfactorily dispose of them 

In 1779 settling on lands beyond the Ohio was prohibited. In the same year 
a memorial was presented by the proprietors of a tract of land called Indiana, 
requesting protection against the sale of said land by the State of Virginia, within 
whose boundaries it was claimed to be. 

In 1779, dispute having arisen between Pennsylvania and Virginia relative to 
the extent of their boundaries, which might be productive of serious evil to both 
States, and tend to lessen their exertions in the common cause, it was resolved 
that the contending States do not grant any part of the disputed land, nor disturb 
persons living thereon, and to avoid any appearance of force until the dispute can 
be amicably settled by both States, or brought to a just decision by the interven¬ 
tion of Congress, etc. 

In 1779 New York delegates offered a resolution, that the several thirteen 
States are entitled to and ought to hold and be maintained in the possession of 
all the lands and territories which appertained to each of them, respectively, while 
they were colonies of, and subject to, the King of Great Britain. 

That none of said States ought to be, or shall be divest 3d of any land or ter¬ 
ritory over which they exercised jurisdiction at the time aforesaid, unless by 
judgment of Congress, in the way prescribed by the Articles of Confederation. 

That no part or district of one or more States shall be permitted to separate 
therefrom and become independent therein without the express consent and 
approbation of such State or States, respectively, etc. 

To facilitate the completion of the Articles of Confederation, by an act of 
Delegates on March 1st, 1781, the western boundary of that State was fixed as 
follows, to-wit: “A line drawn from the Northeast corner of the State of Penn¬ 
sylvania, along the Noitli bounds thereof, to its Northwest corner, continued due 
West until it shall be intereseted by a meridian line, to be drawn from the 45tli 
degree of North latitude, and thence by said 45tli degree of North latitude,” and 
ceded all claims to “lands and territories to the Northward and Westward of these 
boundaries to, and to be granted and disposed of as the Congress of the United or 
Confederated States shall order and direct.” As the natural northern and western 
boundaries of New York were at that time, as now, the St. Lawrence, lakes Ontario 
and Erie, and the land North and West being in Canada, the value of the cession 
in lands is not apparent, but it apparently had an influence on the other Colonies 
in securing a like cession of their interest in the so-called Western lands, and so 
brought about the ratification of the Articles of Confederation. 

TERRITORIAL LANDS. 

On September 6th, 1780, Congress took into consideration the request of the 
Committee, to whom was referred the instructions of the general assembly to 
their delegates in Congress, respecting the Articles of Confederation, and the 
declarations therein referred to; the act of the legislature of New York on the 
same subject, and the remonstrance of the Genenal Assembly of Virginia, which 
report was agreed to, and is in the words following : 

“That, having duly considered the several matters to them submitted, they 
conceive it unnecessary to examine into the merits or policy of the instructions or 
declaration of the general assembly of Maryland, or the remonstrance of the 


CONTINENTAL CONGRESS. 


27 

general assembly of Virginia, as they involve questions, a discussion of which was 
declined on mature consideration when the articles of confederation were debated, 
nor in the opinion of the Committee can such question be now revived with any 
prospect of conciliation; that it appears more advisable to press upon those States 
which can remove the embarrassments respecting the western country, a liberal 
surrender of a portion of their territorial claims, since they cannot be preserved 
entire without endangering the stability of the general confederacy; to remind 
them how indespensably necessary it is to establish the Federal Union on a fixed 
and permanent basis, and on principles acceptable to all the respective members, 
to the support of our army, to the vigor of our country, and the success of our 
measures ; to our tranquility at home, our reputation abroad; to our existence 
as a free, sovereign and independent people; that they are fully persuaded the 
wisdom of the respective legislatures will lead them to a full and impartial con¬ 
sideration of a subject so interesting to the United States and so necessary to the 
happy establishment of the Federal Union ; that they are confirmed in their 
expectations by a review of the before mentioned act of the legislature of New 
York, submitted to their consideration; that this act is expressly calculated to 
accelerate the federal alliance, by removing, as far as depends on that State, the 
impediment arising from the western country, and for that purpose to yield up a 
poition of territorial claim, for general benefit.” Whereupon, 

Resolved, That the coxjies of the several papers referred to the Committee, be 
transmitted with a copy of the report to the legislatures of the several States, and 
that it be earnestly recommended to these States, who have claims to the western 
country, to pass such laws and give their delegates in Congress such power as 
may effectually remove the only obstacle to a final satisfaction of the articles of 
confederation; and that the legislature of Maryland be earnestly requested to 
authoiize their delegates in Congress to subscribe to the said Articles. 

NEW HAMPSHIRE GRANTS. 

Congress took into consideration the resolutions of the Committee of the 
Whole, June 1st, 1779. 

“ Whereas, animosities have lately proceeded so far and run so high as to 
endanger the internal peace of the United States, which renders it indispensably 
necessary for Congress to interpose for the restoration of quiet and good order. 

“And whereas, one of the great objects of the Union of the United States is 
the mutual protection and security of their respective rights; and whereas, it is 
of the last importance to said Union that all causes of discontent and jealousy 
between said States shall be removed, and therefore that their several boundaries 
and jurisdiction be ascertained and settled : 

“It is therefore recommended, that Congress be authorized to hear and de¬ 
termine all differences between them; i. e., New Hampshire, Massachusetts and 
New York, relative to their respective boundaries, in the mode prescribed by the 
Articles of Confederation.” 

FUTURE STATES. 

On the 10th of October, 1780, resolved, “ That the unappropriated lands that 
may be ceded or relinquished to the United States by any particular State, pur¬ 
suant to the recommendation of Congress on the 6th day of September last, shall 
be disposed of for the common benefit of the United States, and be settled and 
formed into distinct Republican States, which shall become members of the Fed- 


28 


CONTINENTAL CONGRESS . 


eral Union, and have the same right of sovereignty, freedom and independence as 
the other States ; that each State so formed shall contain a suitable extent of ter¬ 
ritory, not less than 100, nor more than 150 miles square, or as near thereto as 
circumstances will admit; that the necessary and reasonable expenses which any 
particular State shall have incurred since the commencement of the “present 
war,” in subduing any British posts, or m maintaining forts or garrisons within 
and for the defence, or in acquiring any part of the territory that may be ceded 
or relinquished to the United States, shall be reimbursed. 

“That the said lands shall be granted or settled at such times and under 
such regulations as shall hereafter be agreed upon by the United States in Con¬ 
gress assembled, or any nine or more of them.” 

WOMEN IN BATTLE. 

The myth of Moll Pitcher at the battle of Monmouth, familiar to those in 
boyhood days, but now of mature years, by the gaudy pictures in red, white and 
blue, wherein a woman—clothed in a rfeVi skirt, blue jacket, the sleeves of which 
were rolled up to and above the elbow, hair flying—was represented as serving in 
the midst of battle, at a cannon, in the position of ramming home the charge pre¬ 
paratory to firing at the enemy,—conveniently retreating in the distance,—occu¬ 
pying the most prominent position, where she could be the “observed of all 
observers,” and toward whom she was looking instead of at the enemy, has passed 
away ; but the realization of a woman serving at a cannon in' actual battle, and 
being wounded, is shown in the proceedings of Continental Congress, and is, 
perhaps, the only case on record where a woman was so recognized by legislative 
enactment, for actual service as a soldier in battle, which is as follows: 

MARGARET CORBIN. 

July 6th, 1779, the following resolution w r as adopted : “ That Margaret Corbin, 

who was wounded and disabled in the attack on Fort Washington, wdiile she 
heroically filled the post of her husband, who was killed by her side serving a 
piece of artillery, do receive during her natural life, or the continuance of said 
disability, the one-half of the monthly pay draw T n by a soldier in the service of 
these States; and that she now receive out of the public stores one complete suit 
of clothes.” 

July 25th, 1780, Congress resolved: “ That Margaret Corbin receive annu¬ 
ally during her natural life, one complete suit of clothes out of the public stores, 
or the value thereof in money, in addition to the provision made for her by act of 
Congress of July 6tli, 1779.” It was well that provision was made “ for the value 
thereof in money,” in lieu of a suit of clothes out of the public stores, as at that 
time a soldier’s suit of clothes included a pair of “leather breeches.” 

MONUMENTS. 

Congress voted a monument to the memory of General Warren, who fell at 
Bunker Hill, and also voted the “ half pay of a Major General for the education of 
his three children from his death until the youngest shall become of age.” 

A monument was voted to the memory of General Montgomery, who fell at 
Quebec, and Dr. Franklin, Minister to France, was authorized to procure one to 
cost 300 pounds sterling, or $1500, and that an oration be delivered by Dr. Smith, 
which was done Feb. 19th, 1776, when Congress adjourned for the occasion. 


CONTINENTAL CONGRESS. 


29 

A monument was voted to the memory of Hugh Mercer, a Brigadier General 
in the army of the United States, who was mortally wounded in the battle of 
Princeton, to be erected at Fredericksburg, Virginia. And one to the memory of 
Baron DeKalb, who was mortally wounded in the battle of Camden, South Car¬ 
olina, August 16th, and died August 19th, 1779. 

Monuments, to cost not exceeding $500 each, were ordered erected to the 
memories of Brigadier General Davidson of North Carolina, who fell at Salisbury, 
and Brigadier General Scriven cf Georgia. 

BILLS OF CREDIT, OR CONTINENTAL CURRENCY. 

The first emission of bills of credit, to the amount of two million of Spanish 
milled dollars, was ordered June 22d, 1775, when it was resolved, “that the twelve 
confederated colonies be pledged for the redemption of the bills of credit now 
directed to be emitted.” 

Gold and Silver.— December 8th, 1778, all limitations of the price of gold 
and silver were repealed. 

March 18tli, 1780, Congress made provision for calling in outstanding Conti¬ 
nental currency on account of its depreciation, to the rate of forty to one of silver, 
because at the time of the issue there was no civil government of sufficient energy 
to enforce the collection of taxes, to provide funds for the redemption of such bills, 
and provided that as such bills should be presented in payment of taxes to the 
several States, that such States should emit their own bills, the payment of which, 
with interest at the rate of 5 per cent, to be guaranteed by the United States, 
and on March 20th, 1780, it was made a legal tender, when Congress recommended 
to the several States to revise the existing law, making Continental bills a tender 
in the discharge of debts, etc. And again, on August 26th, 1780, “Resolved, 
that it be earnestly recommended to the several States to take the most speedy 
and effectual measures in their power for drawing in their respective quotas of the 
Continental bills of credit, to be destroyed either by a tax to be collected imme¬ 
diately, or by exchanging them for new bills, to be emitted pursuant to the act of 
the 18th of March last, at a rate of not less than forty of the former for one of the 
latter, so that the whole of said new bills may be issued.” 

LOAN OFFICES. 

As a Ways and Means measure to raise $5,000,000, Congress, on October 3, 
1776, established loan offices in the different States, with commissioners to 
receive loans from the people at 4 per cent per annum, the commissioners to 
deliver the certificates therefor, the loan to be paid in three years. 

In November, 1777, Congress, in giving the reasons why a call for $5,000,000 
from the several States required them to cause subscriptions to be opened for 
such sums as the citizens may be willing to lend; and recommended to the 
several States, by their separate authority, to appoint commissioners to regulate 
the price of provisions and other commodities for the use of the army. 

details. 

The attention of Congress to details was remarkable; seemingly the smallest 
item had attention ; every bill and allowance, even as in one case supplying a 
shirt, pair of shoes and stockings, and also sawing wood for Congress, was care¬ 
fully scrutinized, while matters of importance had attention of special Commit- 


30 


CONTINENTAL CONGRESS. 


tees, the Committee of the Whole and of Congress itself. Complaints of individu¬ 
als, disputes between officers, receiving and treating with Indians, appeals from 
Court Martials, and contests between Colonies, as between New 7 York, New 
Hampshire and Vermont, so-called; in regard to the grant to Connecticut and 
Pennsylvania, etc., were duly considered and settled. 

LOTTERY. 

As another means to raise money, Congress, on November 1st, 1776, resolved 
to raise money by lottery, and a plan was submitted on the 18th of November 
following, and elected a board of seven managers; that only prizes be drawn, etc. 

MINT. 

February 21, 1782, Congress approved the establishment of a mint, and 
directed the Superintendent of Finance to propose a plan for establishing and 
conducting the same. 

LEAD. 

t ' 9 

A Committee was appointed to make inquiry in all the Colonies for lead ore, 
and the best means of collecting, smelting and refining it. In 1777, lead spouts 
on the buildings in Philadelphia were ordered removed and melted into bullets 
for the use of the Army. In August, 1781, an appraisement of the lead spouts so 
taken was ordered. 

CANNON. 

March 22d, 1777, the Board of War was empowered to contract with Mr. 
Wheelen for a number of cannon of the new 7 construction invented by him. 

AMMUNITION. 

To supply the Colonies with ammunition, Congress resolved that every vessel 
importing sulphur, gunpowder, or saltpetre, might export the produce of the col¬ 
onies, provided they brought with the sulphur four times as much saltpetre, brass 
field pieces, or good muskets with bayonets. 

ARMS—MUSKETS. 

July 18, 1775, Congress recommended makers of arms that they make good, 
subitinfcial muskets, with barrels 3V£ feet in length, to carry an ounce ball, and 
be fitted with a good bayonet and steel rod. 

SALTPETRE AND SULPHUR. 

As early as June, 1775, Congress devoted one day to making provisions for 
collecting in the several colonies, with all possible dispatch, all the saltpetre 
and brimstone to be obtained, and to pay for the same out of the “ Continental ” 
fund ; and also recommend that all the powder mills in the Colony of New 7 York 
to be put in condition as to immediately manufacture gunpowder for use of the 
“ Continent.” 

Salt.—A committee w 7 as directed to make a similar inquiry as to the best 
means of collecting salt. (Sundry persons having taken advantage of the act of 
Congress respecting the regulation of prices, such limit was restored in May, 1776, 
and again repealed in December following. 

Atlas. The Secretary was authorized to purchase an Atlas for the use of 
Congress. 


CONTINENTAL CONGRESS. 


31 


Bibles.—Congress, upon report of the Committee and the Chaplains of Con¬ 
gress, recommended the Bibles be printed by Robt. Aitkin, printer to Congress, 
to the patronage and inhabitants of the United States. 

A Committee reported that type, paper and binding could not be had to print 
the required number of bibles, (30,000,) at a cost of less than 10,272 pounds, 10 
shillings, or about 850,000, besides the risk of importation, which amount must 
be advanced by Congress; therefore, the Committee reported it inexpedient to 
do so ; but that, as “the use of the Bible is so universal, and importance so great,” 
it was recommended that 20,000 bibles be imported from Holland, Scotland, or 
elsewhere. 

Prohibition.—Congress recommended to the several States, “to immediately 
pass laws the most effectual for putting stop to the pernicious practice of distill¬ 
ing grain, by which the most extensive evils are likely to be derived, if not ami¬ 
cably prevented. 

Pay.—Thirty dollars per day was voted to the Keeper of the new jail at Phil¬ 
adelphia ; twenty dollars to each of his assistants, and ten dollars to the Turnkey. 
Subsequently the pay was fixed at 860, $50 and 830, respectively. 

The Commissary General was allowed a salary at the rate of 840,000 per year ; 
also six rations, and forage for four horses per day; and Assistant Commissary a 
commission of 2 per cent on all purchases. 

McHenry, doorkeeper, and Robert Patten, messenger, were allowed. 840 per 
day, Continental currency, the value of which was 40 to 1 per cent specie, as 
fixed by Congress. 

Bonds.—Commissions, bills of exchange and other legal documents received 
careful attention, and were in all cases prepared by a Committee and submitted 
to Congress for approval. 

Troops.—Troops were ordered to be enlisted or drafted for three years or 
during the war. 

Wood.—March 26, 1777, Robert Patten was ordered to be paid 89 per cord for 
cutting wood. 

Franking Privilege.- In 1781 the franking privilege was granted to certain 
officials 

Postage.- In 1779 the rate of postage was doubled. 

Orthography—Of the words “ceconomy,” “cloathes,” “Peeks kiln,” “ccmpkat,” 
“Orkansas,” and others, seem, today, rather peculiar. 

Piays.—October 10, 1778, “ Resolved, that any person holding an office finder 
the United States, who shall act, promote, or attend plays, or play houses, fhall 
be deemed unworthy to hold such office, and shall be accordingly dismissed. 

American.—This word first appears in reference to prisoners, to-wit: “Amer¬ 
ican prisoners in the hands of the enemy.” 

The first Congress more than once resolved itself into a Committee of the 
Whole to take into consideration the state of “ America.” 

Cornstalks.—November 15, 1777, a Committee was appointed to collect and 
digest the late useful discovery of making molasses and spirits from the juice of 
cornstalks, and report a plan for communicating the said discovery to the inhab¬ 
itants of the several States. 



32 


CONTINENTAL CONGRESS. 


BANK. 

June 21, 1780, a number of patriotic citizens having formed a plan for the 
establishment of a bank, “whose object is the public service,” Congress appointed 
a Committee to confer with the inspectors and directors, which Committee 
brought in a detailed report setting forth the object and purpose of the Bank, 
whereupon Congress pledged the faith of the United States to the Bank for their 
reimbursement and indemnity for any losses or expenses suffered in the public 
service. 

May 26tli, 1781, a plan of the Bank of North America, or National Bank, was 
approved, and on December 31st the ordinance for incorporating the Bank of 
North America was read and adopted, and the States requested “to pass such 
laws as may be necessary for giving the Ordinance full operation.” 


PRICES. 


The fluctuation of prices in November, 1779, caused inequality and injustice 
in private dealings and made it impossible to make proper estimates for supplies, 
expense or salaries. Congress recommended the States to enact laws limiting 
prices in their respective jurisdictions, to take effect February 1st, 1780. 

In making requisition upon the several States for supplies, Congress estab¬ 
lished prices as follows : 


Flour, 112 lbs., gross, $4.50. 

Beef, grass-fed, $5.50 per net 100 weight 
Beef, stall-fed, $6.50 per net 100 weight. 
Pork, fatted with corn or rice, $7 per 
net hundred weight. 

Corn, clean, well dried, per bushel, 75c. 
Oats, well cleaned, 50 cts. per bushel. 
Rice, well cleaned, per bushel, $1. 


Beans and peas, per bushel, $1.50. 
Wheat, per bu. weighing 60 lbs. $1.50. 
Hay, best upland, first crop, pr.ton, $15. 
Tobacco, good inspected, per hundred 
net, $6. 

West India Rum, good proof, $1.66 per 
gallon. 

Continental Rum, good proof, $1. 


Other spirits, good proof, suitable for the army, at prices in the usual propor¬ 
tion to the price of rye. 


TAX DUTIES. 


February 3, 1781, Congress recommended to the several States that Congress 
be vested with the power to levy, for the use of the United States, a duty of five 
per cent ad valorem upon all goods, wares and merchandise of foreign growth and 
manufacture, which may be imported after May 1st, 1781, etc. 

That the monies arising from said duties be appropriated to the discharge of 
the principal and interest of debts contracted on the part of the United States 
for supporting the war. 

Lakes.—March 26th, 1776, Commodore Douglass was ordered to the Lakes, to 
take command of vessels in that section. Capt. John Douglass w r as cashiered 
on August 12th, 1779. 

BENEDICT ARNOLD. 


April 28tli, 1779, a committee was instructed to ask the President of Pennsyl¬ 
vania to “specify those transactions respecting Gen. Arnold which are likely to 
become the subject of discussion between Congress and the authority of the 
State.” 


In February, 1780, proceedings of Court Martial received, the sentence was 
confirmed, and on September 4th, 1780, his name was ordered smitten from the 
register of officers of the Army of the United States. 




CONTINENTAL CONGRESS. 


33 


PAULDING, WILLIAMS AND VAN WERT. 

November 3, 1*780, Congress adopted resolutions attesting their high sense of 
the virtues and patriotic conduct of John Paulding, John Williams, and Isaac 
Van Wert, in capturing John Andre, and ordered that they be paid $200 annually 
in specie; also that a silver medal be given them. 

GENERAL LEE. 

Monday, January 10th, 1778, it w r as resolved that Major General Charles Lee 
be informed that Congress has no further occasion for his services in the Army 
of the United States. 

GENERAL BURGOYNE. 

Congress having reason to believe that all the arms of the British Army sur¬ 
rendered at Saratoga were not delivered as required, and also that refusal of Gen. 
Burgoyne to furnish descriptive lists of the non-commssioned officers and privates 
of his army, directed an inquiry of Gen. Gates as to what became of the standards 
of the respective regiments, the military chest and medicine, the cartouche boxes 
and muskets, being less than the number of prisoners, etc.; why the quantity of 
powder is so small, and why the number of bayonets are so inferior to the musket 
captured from Gen. Burgoyne. Whereupon, Burgoyne, yet on parole, declared 
that the public faith of Congress had been broken, “ in order to disengage him¬ 
self and the army under him of any obligation * * * to these United States.” 

When Congress declared, “ that the security which these States have had in 
his personal honor is destroyed,” and ordered “that the embarkation of Gen. Bur¬ 
goyne and the troops under his command be suspended until a distinct and 
explicit ratification of the convention at Saratoga shall be properly notified by 
the Court of Great Britain to Congress,” and ordered the vessels for the transpor¬ 
tation of Borgoyne’s army to Europe to quit the port of Boston. 

ETHAN ALLEN. 

The following may interest those who have had boyhood ideal heroes of the 
Revolution : 

December 21st, 1775.—The Congress being informed that Mr. Ethan Allen, 
who was taken prisoner near Montreal, is confined in irons on board a vessel in 
the river St. Lawrence, General Washington was directed to apply to General 
Howe on this matter, and desire that he may be exchanged. 

January 26th, 1776.—The Commanders-in-chief of any department were di¬ 
rected to exchange any officer in the British Army now a prisoner, of or under the 
rank of Colonel, for Col. Ethan Allen. 

January 3d, 1777, General Washington was directed to offer in exchange one 
of the Hessian field officers, lately taken, for Col. Ethan Allen. 

May 4tli, 1778.—A letter from Lieut.-Col. Ethan Allen being read, it was 
resolved, “that a brevet commission of Colonel be granted to Ethan Allen in 
reward for his fortitude, firmness and zeal in the cause of his country, manifested 
during the course of his long and cruel captivity, as well as on former occasions,” 
and, 

May 16th, 1778, “That Col. Ethan Allen be entitled to all the benefits and 
privileges of a Lieutenant Colonel in the service of the United States, during the 
time of his late captivityand on 


CONTINENTAL CONGRESS. 


34 


September 24th, 1778, it was represented to Congress, “that Col. Ethan Allen’s 
circumstances have been greatly reduced by his late long and £ruel confinement, 
and his brevet commission does not entitle him to pay,” when it was resolved 
“that seventy-five dollars per month be allowed Col. E. Allen from the date of his 
brevet during the pleasure of Congress, or until he shall be called into actual 
service.” 

LA FAYETTE. 

In May, 1780, the return of LaFayette to resume his command, was con¬ 
sidered by Congress as a fresh proof of his disinterested zeal and persevering 
attachment, which have greatly recommended him to the public confidence and 
applause; and that they receive with pleasure a tender of the further service of 
so gallant and meritorious an officer, and on the 31st of June he was appointed a 
Major General. 

TICONDEROGA. 

May 18,1775.—Congress, upon receiving the repoit of the surprise and taking 
of Ticonderoga, together with the quantity of cannon and military stores, by a 
detachment from Massacausetts Bay and Connecticut, resolved that this was 
indisputable evidence of a design for an invasion of the Colonies from Quebec, 
and that the cannon and military stores captured would have been used in the 
intended invasion, recommend to the Committees of Safety of New York and 
Albany, to cause the cannon and stores to be removed to the south end of Lake 
George, and that an exact inventory be taken of all such cannon and stores, in 
order that they may be safely returned when the restoration of the former har¬ 
mony between Great Britain and these colonies, so ardently wished for by the 
latter, shall render it prudent and consistent with the overruling law of self 
preservation. 

OATH. 

October 21st, 1776, Congress framed a form of oath of allegiance, wherein the 
thirteen United States of America were acknowledged free and independent 
States—and allegiance thereto admitted; also allegiance to George Third, King of 
Great Britain, renounced. 

THANKSGIVINGS—FASTS. 

Thanksgivings, or Fasts, sometimes both, were recommended to the people 
each year. The proclamations, as prepared each year by the Committees appointed 
for that purpose, are full of religious sentiment and piety. Thursday seems to 
have been the day selected for their observance, and on one occasion Congress 
adjourned to take part as a body, the sermon being preached by the Chaplain. 

The situation having become most serious by reason of depreciation of the 
currency, Congress issued an address to the people, reciting the situation at the 
beginning of the war, the poverty and lack of minutiae of w r ar, the struggles, the 
economy practiced, the prospect of the future, and closed with this appeal: 

“Fill up your battalions; be prepared in every part to repel the incursions of 
your enemies; place your several quotas in the continental treasury; lend money 
for public uses; sink the omissions of your respective States ; provide effectually 
for the expediting the conveyance of supplies for your armies and fleets, and for 
public allies; prevent the produce of the country from being monopolized; 
effectually superintend the behavior of public officials ; diligently promote piety, 


CONTINENTAL CONGRESS. 


35 


virtue, and brotherly love, learning, frugality, and moderation; and may you be 
approved before Almighty God, and worthy those blessings we devoutly wish 
you to enjoy.” 

CANADA. 

March 20, 1776, Dr. Franklin, Samuel Chase and Charles Carroll were ap¬ 
pointed Commissioners to visit Canada and make known the terms and protection 
assumed upon their union with the United Colonies. 

November 7, 1777, the Articles of Confederation were amended to permit 
Canada according to this confederation, and join in the measures of the United 
States. By striking out the word “entirely” before “joining,” and to read, 
“ Canada, according to this confederation, and joining in the measures of the 
United States, shall be admitted into and entitled to all the advantages of this 
Union.” 

BAHAMA ISLANDS. 

To relieve the distress of the suffering islanders on account of their warm 
attachment to the States, it was recommended that Pennsylvania, Delaware, 
Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina each export 1,000 bushels of corn to those 
islands, it being understood that the Court of France will cordially acquiesce. 
And Congress voted to permit the supplies to be sent for the use of distressed 
inhabitants, upon security being given that the same shall not be applied to any 
other use. 

INDIANS. 

John Allen was appointed an agent for Indians in Nova Scotia, and the tribes 
to the Eastward and Northward thereof. Much effort was made to cultivate and 
retain the friendship of the Indians. Very early agents, and afterwards commis¬ 
sioners, were appointed for the purpose, and in at least two instances they were 
invited to, and did appear upon the floor of Congress, and were addressed by the 
President. 

In December, 1775, a body of Indians visited Congress, and a committee, con¬ 
sisting of George Wythe of Virginia, Thos. Lynch, Jr., of North Carolina, and 
Samuel Adams of Massachusetts, were appointed a committee to confer with 
them; returning a friendly answer, Congress ordered the Committee to make 
them a present, whereupon an order for the munificent sum of thirteen and one- 
third dollars was formally drawn upon the Treasurer to pay for the same. 

HISTORY. 

July, 1778, Ebenezer Hazard, afterwards Postmaster General, was recom¬ 
mended by resolution as deserving public patronage in his labors to collect 
various State papers relative to the origin and progress of the several European 
settlements in North America, and such as relates to the use and progress of the 
present war with Great Britain, and that he be admitted to inspection of public 
records, and be furnished copies of such papers as he may judge will conduce to 
that valuable end. Also, that he be advanced one thousand dollars on account of 
expenses incurred. 

FLAG. 

The following terse three line resolution, adopted Saturday, June 14,1777, set 
in solid type, without display, is the brief record of the birth of “ Old Glory.” 

ft 


CONTINENTAL CONGRESS. 


36 


Resolved , That the flag of the thirteen United States be thirteen stripes, 
alternate red and white ; that the Union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, 
representing a new constellation. 

Only this, and nothing more. 

ESTABLISHMENT OF THE AMERICAN ARMY. 

May 27th, 1780, Congress adopted the Regimental formation of Infantry, 
Artillery, Cavalry, and a Provost Guard, also an Engineer Corps, and October 3, 
1780, it was resolved that the Regular Army of the United States, from and after 
January 1st, 1781, consist of, 

4 regiments of Cavalry, or light dragoons. 

4 regiments of Artillery. 

49 regiments of Infantry. 

1 regiment of Artificers. 

INVALID CORPS. 

July 16, 1777, Congress made provision for “raising a corps of invalids.” * * * 
“Men having only one leg or one arm each, otherwise capable of doing garrison 
duty, are to be deemed proper recruits for this corps,” and were required “to 
repair to Philadelphia and shew themselves to Col. Nicola in Front Street, four 
doors below the Coffee House.” 

PENSIONS. 

Congress, in April, 1778, began to consider whether some provision ought not 
to be made for officers of the Continental Army after the conclusion of the war, 
and on May 15, 1778, resolved, that all officers who shall serve during the war 
shall receive half pay for seven years thereafter, and that soldiers shall receive a 
reward of the sum of eighty dollars. 

FOREIGN AFFAIRS. 

January 10, 1781, a committee reported, “The extent and rising power of 
these United States entitles them to a place among the great potentates of Europe, 
which our political and commercial interests point out the propriety of cultiva¬ 
ting with them a friendly correspondence and connection,” etc. Whereupon, 
Congress resolved to the “ Department of Foreign Affairs.” 

Robert R. Livingston, a member of Congress in 1775-76-79-84, one of the 
Committee to draft the Declaration, was designated as the “Secretary to the 
United States for the Department of Foreign Affairs.” 

April 20, 1779, after much debate and a separate vote upon the insertion of 
individual names, it was resolved, “ that suspicions and animosities have arisen 
among the late and present commissioners, namely, Dr. B. Franklin, Mr. Silas 
Deane, Mr. Arthur Lee, Mr. Ralph Izard, and Mr. William Lee, highly prejudicial 
to the honor and interests of these United States.” 

TREATY WITH FRANCE. 

Congress, at Yorktown, Pennsylvania, on the 4th day of May, 1778, ratified 
the treaty with France. 

July 11th, a letter was received from Silas Deane, dated “Delaware Bay,” 
announcing his arrival from France with Count DeEstaing’s fleet; also the arrival 
of Sieur Gerard, the French Minister to the United States, at whose reception 
by Congress, August 6th, it was ordered “that the door of the Congress Chamber 


CONTINENTAL CONGRESS. 


37 


be open during the audience to be given to the Minister Plenipotentiary of His 
Most Christian Majesty, and that each member may give two tickets for admit¬ 
tance of other persons to the audience.” 

August 6th, according to order, “ the Hon. Sieur Gerard was introduced to an 
audience by two members for that purpose appointed, and being seated in his 
chair, his secretary delivered to the President a letter from his Most Christian 
Majesty directed “To Our very 'great friends and dear allies, the President and 
members of the General Congress of the United States of North America.” 

To which the President returned answer, whereupon the Minister withdrew 
and was conducted to his home in the same manner in which he was brought to 
the house. 

ADDRESS. 

May, 1778, Congress adopted an address to the inhabitants of the United 
States of America, saying : 

“Friends and Countrymen :—Three years have now passed away since the 
commencement of the present war. A war without parallel in the annals of 
mankind. It habh displayed a spectacle the most solemn that can possibly be 
exhibited; on one side we behold fraud and violence laboring in the service of 
despotism; on the other, virtue and fortitude supporting and establishing the 
rights of human nature,” etc. 

“Our enemies tell you, it is true, that your money is of no value, and your 
debts so enormous they can never be paid, but we tell you that if Britain prose¬ 
cutes the war another campaign, that single campaign will cost her more than we 
have hitherto expended! 

“ It becomes you deeply to reflect upon this subject. Is there a country 
upon earth which hath such resources for the payment of her debts as America? 
Such an extensive territory? So fertile, so blessed in its climate and productions? 
Surely there is none, neither is there any to which the wise Europeans will sooner 
confide their property.” 

“What are the reasons your money hath depreciated? Because no taxes 
have been imposed to carry on the war ; because your commerce hath been inter¬ 
rupted by your enemies’ fleets ; because their armies have ravaged and desolated 
a part of your country; because their agents have villainously counterfeited your 
bills; because extortioners among you, inflamed with the lust of gain, have added 
to the price of every article of life,” etc. 

“ If you exert the means of defence which God and nature have given you 
the time will soon arrive when every man shall sit under his own vine and fig 
tree, and there shall be none to make him afraid.” 

Mark the prophecy! 

CONTINENTAL CONGRESS. 

How this title came to be attached to the Congress of Delegates first assem¬ 
bled in Philadelphia on that now memorable Monday, the 5th day of September, 
1774, and to the succeeding Congresses which met each year while the war of the 
Revolution continued, it is not now easy to determine, for certainly the official 
journals nor any document officially promulgated by it do not assume such a title, 
if we except a single instance, to-wit: the plan of association adopted October 
20th, 1774, wherein it says: “We, his Majesty’s most loyal subjects, the dele- 


38 


CONTINENTAL CONGRESS. 


gates of the several colonies deputed to represent them in a ‘ Continental Con¬ 
gress \” etc., etc. 

The first paragraph of the Journals read : “A number of delegates chosen 
and appointed by the several colonies and provinces in North America, to meet 
and hold a ‘ Congress ’ at Philadelphia,” etc. 

The credentials of the Delegates, as a rule, do not suggest such a title as 
Continental Congress. 

New Hampshire appointed delegates to a “ General Congress.” 

Massachusetts to a meeting of “ Committees ” of the several Colonies on this 
Continent. 

Rhode Island to a “ General Congress.” 

Connecticut to a “Congress” or Convention of Commissioners, or a General 
Congress. 

New York to a “ Congress” at Philadelphia. 

New Jersey to a “ General Congress of Deputies.” 

Pennsylvania to a “ Congress of Deputies.” Subsequently, delegates from 
Pennsylvania presented credentials showing they were appointed to represent 
that “province” in “Continental Congress.” 

Delaware, or as then known, the counties of Kent, New Castle, and Sussex on 
Delaware, to a general “ Continental Congress.” Here let me say that the people 
of this colony were of record the most advanced as to a “ Continental Congress ” 
and independence than any other, Massachusetts, only, excepted. 

Maryland to a “ General Congress.” 

Virginia to a “General Congress of Deputies.” 

North Carolina to a “ General Congress.” 

South Carolina to a “ General Congress.” 

Hence, there appears no official warrant for the designation of “ Continental 
Congress,” nor do the Journals show any such title, with the exception referred 
to, but throughout the record “ continental currency,” “ continental army,” and 
similar descriptive words appear from almost the meeting of the second or 1775 
Congress, as for instance, the form of bills for “ Continental Currency ” which 
was adopted June 23, 1775. (George Clymer and Richard Hillegas were chosen 
“Continental ” Treasurers June 29th, 1775, and were required to give a bond in the 
sum of $100,000 each, and to receive the munificent salary of $500 per year.) 

The Rules and Orders and Regulations to be observed by the “ Continental 
Army” were adopted June 30th, 1775, and amended November 7th, of the same 
year. 

Delaware appears to have taken the lead in styling it the “ Continental Con¬ 
gress,” as she did as early as August 1st, 1774, in the credentials of her delegates, 
which credentials were the first to contain the words, “Continental Congress.” 

And again in the plan of Association adopted October 20th, 1774, of a major¬ 
ity of the Colonies—although “American” and “General” appears in others— 
and “signed at the table” by the fifty-two members, twenty-two of whom after¬ 
wards signed the Declaration of Independence. 

The designation assumed by the delegates to the first Congress, and in con¬ 
formity with the credentials from a majority of the colonies, as before stated, 
appears to have been a General Congress, but the Journals and all official papers 


CONTINENTAL CONGRESS. 


39 


subsequently issued, are signed by the order of “ The Congress.” Washington’s 
commission was so signed. 

* But while the record runs thus, we shall go back to the demand of Ethan 
Allen at Ticondoroga, “by the order of the Great Jehovah and the Continental 
Congress,” and we may therefore join in and apply the sentiment uttered by 
General Sherman at the Centenial anniversary of Bunker Hill, when he is reported 
to have said, “Breed’s Hill? No-, never; Bunker’s Hill it was to me as a boy, 
Bunker’s Hill it is to me as a man, and Bunker’s Hill it shall be to me forever.” 
And so, “Continental Congress” it shall be to us and to posterity forever. 

QUORUM. 

The average attendance of members of “Continental ” Congresses of 1774-75- 
76-77-78-79-80-81-82-83, which in the aggregate consisted of 233 members, was 
less than an average of 30 per Congress, and even of this number it was impossible 
to secure the attendance of all the delegates from the several colonies, so that the 
credentials were in some cases, while naming several delegates, authorized one or 
more to represent the colony and constitute a quorum of the delegation. 

October 1st, 1776, the President of Congress was requested to write letters to 
the respective States requesting a full representation of said States in Congress 
as speedily as possible, and on December 9th, 1777, the President was requested 
to write to the States of Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland and 
South Carolina, representing to them the great and important matters to be 
transacted in Congress during the winter, and the few remaining members now 
attending, and that he request them to send forward without delay an additional 
number of members. Also to write in pressing letters to the States of New 
Jersey and Delaware, who are unrepresented, to send delegates immediately to 
Congress. Only fourteen members appear to have been present at this time. 

SECRECY. 

Congress, at the first session, adopted a resolution “ that the doors be kept 
shut during the time of business, and that members consider themselves under the 
strongest obligations of Honor to keep the Proceedings secret until the majority 
shall direct them to be made public.” 

PRIVILEGE OF MEMBERS. 

June 12, 1777, a Mr. Gunning Bedford having challenged Mr. Sergent, a del¬ 
egate in Congress from New Jersey, for words spoken in debate, it was 

Besolved, That Congress has, and always has had authority to protect their 
members from insult for anything by them said or done in Congress in the exer¬ 
cise of their duty, which is a privilege essential to the freedom of debate, and to 
the faithful discharge of the great trust reposed in them by their Constituents. 

Mr. Bedford was summoned to attend Congress and answer for his conduct. 
He was found guilty of a high breach of the privilege of the House, and required 
to ask pardon of the House, and the member challenged, which was done and the 
case dismissed. 

March 7, 1776, one Isaac Melchier having treated the President of Congress 
with great rudeness, and used several disrespectful and contemptuous expressions 
toward him and Congress, he was ordered to appear before Congress, when he 
assured the House of not remembering his having behaved with disrespect. 


40 


CONTINENTAL CONGRESS . 


Owing to the peculiar circumstances he happened to be under, and asking pardon 
of Congress, he w^as dismissed. 

Congress could be and was “ spunky ” at times, when occasion required; as 
in the case of the Committee appointed to confer with Lord Howe, who reported 
that he desired to treat with them as individuals, and not as a Committee of Con¬ 
gress ; that they informed him that the Colonies had declared themselves indepen¬ 
dent States ; that as such they were settling their governments ; that it was not in 
the power of Congress to agree for them to return to their former dependency as 
Colonies; that they could only treat with him for peace as independent nations. 

Also, when the President laid before them a letter to him from Sir Henry 
Clinton, and a paper purporting to be an extract of a letter from Lord Germaine, 
one of His Majesty’s Secretaries of State; whereupon, the Secretary of Con¬ 
gress was directed to reply, “that the Congress of the United States makes no 
answer to insolent letters.” 

BRIBERY. 

July 9th, 1778, several members of Congress intimated that they had received 
letters from some of the British Commissioners. All such letters were ordered to 
be laid before Congress. A letter from Geo. Johnston, one of said Commis¬ 
sioners, dated Philadelphia, June 16tli, 1778, to Robert Morris, was read. Mr. 
Dana, Joseph Reed and President Laurens also laid before Congress similar 
letters, which were ordered published. 

Congress, having considered the letters to members, especially to Robert 
Morris and Joseph Reed, and the offer to the latter of ten thousand poupds and 
an office under the British crown, and his answer that he “was not worth purch¬ 
asing, but such as he was the King of Great Britain was not rich enough to do it.” 

Whereupon, reciting the facts, Congress declared that it would not “ hold any 
manner of correspondence or intercourse with said Geo. Johnston, Esq., especially 
to negotiate with him upon affairs in which the cause of liberty is interested.” 

YEAS AND NAYS VOTES. 

The “ Yeas and Nays” do not appear to have been required until 1779, the vote 
previously having been by Colonies. 

In 1777 no vote appears of record from January 1st to August 9th, when the 
first yea and nay vote of members is recorded—22 voted, viz: 6 yeas, 16 nays, 
on a motion to include the words, “ on account of his extraordinary merit and 
former rank in the army,” in a new commission to be made out and sent to Major 
General Benedict Arnold. Again, on the question of a parole army granted to 
John Penn and Benj. Chero, a yea and nay vote of members showed 15 yeas, 16 
nays, and on the same question, but different in form, the vote stood 11 yeas, 20 
nays. 

Yeas and nays were ordered printed in the Journals, August 27, 1779. Prior 
to that date the vote was taken by States and each State to have one vote. Names 
of persons moving and seconding motions or resolutions were ordered to be 
entered upon the Journals, March 15, 1779. The yea and nay vote of members 
also appears on the question of an inquiry into the cause of the evacuation of 
Ticonderoga—ayes 16, nays 14, and ayes 17, nays 9- -or in all, five yea and nay 
votes of members. 


CONTINENTAL CONGRESS. 


41 


All other votes were decided by a vote of States; which was the germ of the 
idea of electing the President by a vote of the States—and not by a vote of the 
people, as generally understood. 

RULES. 

Congress adopted a code of rules, which was a gradual growth, eighteen in 
number, for the government of the Congress. The name of the maker or mover of 
a motion or resolution does not appeear in the Journals of any Congress prior to 
1779, even tile name of the mover of the resolution “ relating to independence,” 
or, as the Journal reads : “ Certain resolutions respecting independence being 

moved and seconded, Resolved, that the consideration of them be deferred until 
tomorrow morning, and that the members be enjoined to attend punctually at ten 
o’clock, in order to take the same into their consideration,” does not appear. 

The following concise rules were adopted by the Congress, to be observed in 
debating and determining the questions that came under consideration : 

That in determining questions in this Congress, each Colony or province 
shall have one vote. The Congress not being possessed of, or at present able to 
procure proper materials for ascertaining the importance of each colony. 

That no person shall speak more than twice on the same point, without leave 
of the Congress. 

That no question shall be determined on the day on which it is agitated and 
debated, if any of the colonies desire the determination to be postponed to 
another day. 

That the door be kept shut during the time of business, and that the mem¬ 
bers consider themselves under the strongest obligations of honor to keep the 
proceedings secret until a majority shall direct them to be made public. 

FUTURE OF MEMBERS. 

John Hancock resigned from Congress to become Major-General of Massa¬ 
chusetts Militia, and became Governor of Massachusetts. 

Christopher Gadsden was appointed Brigadier-General. 

Benjamin Harrison, Governor of Virginia. 

John Langdon of New Hampshire, Agent ^)f Prizes. As a Senator from 
New Hampshire he was chosen Vice President, “for the sole purpose of opening 
and counting the electorial votes cast for the first President and Vice President 
of the United States under the constitution.” 

Thomas Mifflin, Quartermaster-General. 

Wm. Livingston, Governor of New Jersey. 

Samuel Ward, Rhode Island, died March 25th, 1776. 

Richard Caswell, Governor of North Carolina. 

Thomas Jefferson, Governor of Virginia and President. 

Caesar Rodney, Governor of Delaware. 

Thos. McKean of Delaware, was the only member who served in all the ses¬ 
sions of Continental Congress, so-called. He was afterwards Chief Justice, and 
also Governor of Pennsylvania. 

James Wilson, Advocate-General of the French Nation, and Associate Justice 
of the United States Supreme Court. 

John Jay, Governor of New York, Minister to Spain and France, and Chief 


42 


CONTINENTAL CONGRESS. 


Justice United States Supreme Court. He had the singular distinction of being 
appointed and empowered to act as the sole delegate from any one State during 
the time of Congress. 

Wm. Paca, appointed a Judge of the Court of Appeals. 

George Wythe, declined the office of Judge of the Court of Appeals. 

Titus Hosmer, appointed a Judge of the Court of appeals. Died August 
25th, 1780. 

Wm. Ellery, appointed a Commissioner of the Board of Admiralty. 

R. R. Livingston of New York, appeared as a Delegate for New York, Nov. 
11th, 1779. First Secretary of State. 

Philip Livingston, delegate from New York, died January 14, 1778, under 
circumstances requiring his immediate burial. 

W. H. Drayton, delegate from South Carolina, died September 3, 1779, under 
circumstances requiring his immediate burial. 

Peyton Randolph, chosen President of First Congress, September 5, 1774, 
and of the Second Congress May 10th, 1775, died suddenly, October 20th, 1775. 
Chaplain Duche preached the funeral sermon. 

Henry Middleton, chosen President of the First Congress in place of Ran¬ 
dolph, who was unable to attend on account of indisposition. 

Henry Hewes, a delegate from North Carolina, died November 10, 1779; 
funeral November 11, 1779, Rev. Mr. White, Chaplain General Assembly and 
President of Council of Pennsylvania, officiating; also French minister invited. 

Forbes, a delegate from Maryland, whose name does not appear in the list of 
delegates, died March 18, 1780, and was buried March 25. Rev. Mr. White, 
Chaplain to Congress, officiated. 

John Adams, appointed Minister to France, and elected President. 

E. Boudinot, appointed Commissary-General of Prisoners. 

George Clinton, Brigadier-General and Governor of New York. 

Benjamin Franklin, appointed Minister to France. 

Francis Hopkinson, chosen Treasurer of Loans. 

Francis Lewis, appointed Commissioner for Admiralty Board. 

Capt. John Hanson, afterwards Commissary, member and President of Con¬ 
gress, appointed to command the fortresses on the Hudson river. 

Thomas Jefferson was first chosen to Congress March 27,1775, “in the room 
of the Hon. Peyton Randolph, Esq., in case of the non-attendance of said Peyton 
Randolph, Esq,” and took his seat June 21st. Mr. Randolph was at that time 
apparently Speaker of the House of Burgess of Virginia, and signed Mr. Jeffer¬ 
son’s credentials, as such, “ At the capital in the city of Williamsburg, on Thurs¬ 
day, 1st June, A. D. 1775, in the 15th year of the reign of our Lord , and George the 
Third of Great Britain etc. The word King is omitted. He was again chosen, 
August 11,1775, to the second or Independence Congress, and again, June 20th, 
for one year from August 11th, 1776, and resigned October 10th, 1776. 

Henry Wisner, as one of the delegates from New York, voted the thanks to 
that State for services in continental Congress. 

Matthew Tighlman, Thomas Johnson, Robert Alexander and Benjamin 
Ramsay, delegates from Maryland in 1776, did not sign the Declaration, having 
been appointed after it was adopted. 


CONTINENTAL CONGRESS. 


43 


John Houston and Nathan Brownson of Georgia did not sign, having been 
appointed after it was adopted. 

Benjamin Harrison was chosen one of the delegates from Virginia, to the 
First or 74 Congress, and again to the Second or ’75 Congress, for the year ending 
August 11, 1/76, but failed of a re-election. He was, however, chosen to this 
Congress in the place of Jefferson, October 10, 1776. He was Chairman of the 
Committee of the Whole while the Declaration was under consideration, and as 
such reported it to the Congress for adoption. 

GOVERNORS OP STATES, 

When in the field, were to rank as Major-Generals. The one longest in office, 
where two or more w^ere present, to be senior in rank for the time being, except 
that the Governor of the State where the troops were operating, though youngest 
in office, to be always senior in rank. 

The executives of Delaware, South Carolina, and other Southern States, were 
for a time called Presidents instead of Governors. 

JOURNALS. 

The first publication of the action of Congress was made October 22, 1774, 
when it was ordered, “that the Journal of Proceedings of the Congress as cor¬ 
rected, be sent to the Press and printed under the direction of Mr. Biddle, Mr. 
Dickinson and the Secretary.” 

Mr. Samuel Adams, Mr. Lee, and Mr. J. Rutledge, with the Secretary, were 
appointed a Committee to revise the Journals of the 1775 Congress, and prepare 
it for the press. 

September 26,1776, Robert Aitkin was employed to reprint the Journals and 
to continue to print the same, Congress to purchase 500 copies of said Journal 
when reprinted, also to purchase such part of the Journals as Bradford, Sist & Co. 
have printed and not yet published. 

September 16, 1776, Francis Hopkinson was paid $200 for compiling the index 
to the first and second volumes of the Journals of Congress—and didn’t do it 
very well. 

November 11, 1778, twenty copies of each were ordered delivered to the del¬ 
egates for the use of each State, and that the remainder of the 700 volumes which 
Congress have agreed to take, be lodged in the Secretary’s office for the use of 
members. 

In 1777 all proceedings of Congress, and all questions agitated and determ¬ 
ined by Congress, were ordered entered on the Journals, and the aye and nay vote 
of each member, if required by any State, be taken on every question as stated 
and determined by the House. 

That whenever any motion or resolution shall be entered on the Journals of 
Congress, the name of the person moving and seconding the same shall be 
enterd thereon. 

The Journals were ordered printed and made public, “that the conduct of 
the public servants be known to their constituents.” 

November 28,1780, Journals were ordered sent to Commander-in-Chief and 
other officers, for the use of the Army. 

6 


u 


CONTINENTAL CONGRESS. 


JOURNALS OP CONGRESS. 

Vol. I. Printed by Robt. Aitkin, Philadelphia, 1777, containing the proceedings 
from Sept. 5, ’74, to Jan. 1, 76. 

Vol. II. Printed by Robt. Aitkin, Philadelphia, 1777, containing the proceedings 
in the year 1776. 

Vol. III. Printed by John Patterson, New York, containing the proceedings from 
Jan. 1, 77, to Jan. 1, 78. 

Vol. IV. Printed by David C. Claypool, Philadelphia, Printer to the Honorable 
Congress, containing the proceedings from Jan. 1, 78, to Jan. 1, 79. 
Vol. V. Printed by David C. Claypool, Philadelphia, 1782, containing proceed¬ 
ings from Jan. 1, 79, to Jan. 1, ’80. 

Vol. VI. Printed by John Dunlap, containing only the Resolutions, Acts and 
Orders of Congress for the year 1780. 

Vol. VII. Printed by John Patterson, New York, 1787, Journals of Congress, and 
of the United States in Congress assembled, for the year 1781. 

Volume I contains the Proceedings of the First and Second Congresses. 
The record of the First Congress is mainly that of protest against wrong, and 
assertion of the rights of the Colonies, and of the inhabitants as Freemen, coupled 
with a desire for restoration of harmonious relations between the Colonies and 
Great Britain. 

The record of the Second Congress, of Addresses to tibie people of Great 
Britain, Quebec, Canada, Ireland, and of the Colonies ; an account of the Battle 
of Lexington ; a Declaration of rights; on the taking up of arms, or of War; 
raising of troops; appointment of Washington as Commander-in-Chief; the 
emission of money, or Continental currency. 

Volume II is a record of the Third Congress, largely relating to finances, the 
Army, Navy, Canada, Indians, Reports of Committees, innumerable minor details, 
and the Declaration of Independence. 

Volume III is largely a record of minor details relating to the Army, its 
equipment and maintenance : the appointment of Commissioners to negotiate a 
loan in Europe; articles of Confederation; LaFayette and numerous foreign 
officers; Conspiracy in Congress; Disaffections, Postoffice, Western Boundary. 
In this volume first appears a record of the vote upon any question which was by 
States. 

Volume IV is largely a record of financial affairs, of accounts, appeals from 
States, the army, boards of war, navy, Burgoyne, commissary department, reports 
of Committees, treaty with France, reception of French Minister, Confederation, 
currency, appointment of Dr. Franklin as Minister to France, Indians, army reg¬ 
ulations, flag, rights and duties of States, minor details, and the first statement of 
expenditures, showing a total of $62,154,842.63 in currency. 

Volume V is a record of Finance, the Board of War, Clothing, Commissary de¬ 
partments, Commissioners in Europe, (their differences,)Recall, Report of Commit¬ 
tees, Confederation, Army Details, Indians, Western Lands, Navy, Complaints of 
States, Vermont. In this volume first appears the names of those who made or 
seconded a motion, also a statement of expenditure. 

Volume VI is simply a brief record of the resolutions, acts and orders of 
Congress for the year 1780. 


CONTINENTAL CONGRESS. 


45 


Volume VII is, in part, a terse record, from January 1st to March 1st, of the 
closing acts of Continental Congress ; the ratification of Articles of Confederation 
by Maryland, which gave them validity, and the organization, March 2d, of the 
Congress of the United States. 

PRESIDENTS OF CONGRESS PRIOR TO THE CONSTITUTION. 

Peyton Randolph, Virginia, elected September 5, 1774. 

Henry Middleton, South Carolina, elected October 22, 1774. 

Peyton Randolph, Virginia, elected May 10,1775 ; died October 20. 

John Hancock, Massachusetts, elected May 24,1775. 

Chas. Thompson, Secretary, elected, pro tem., October 29,1777. 

Henry Laurens, South Carolina, elected November 1, 1777. 

John Jay, New York, elected December 10, 1778. 

Samuel Huntington, Connecticut, elected September 28,1779. 

Samuel Johnson, North Carolina, elected Judo 9, 1781, declined. 

Thos. McKean, Delaware, elected July 10, 1781. 

John Hanson, Maryland, elected November 5, 1781. 

Elias Boudinot, New Jersey, elected November 4, 1782. 

Thomas Mifflin, Pennsylvania, elected November 3,1783. 

Richard Henry Lee, Virginia, elected November 3, 1784. 

John Hancock, Massachusetts, elected 1785. (?) 

Nathaniel Gorham, Massachusetts, elected June 6,1786. 

Arthur St. Clair, Pennsylvania, elected July 2, 1787. 

Cyrus Griffin, Virginia, elected January 22, 1788. 

THANKS. 

Thanks to their presiding officer came at first reluctantly, for when John 
Hancock, after nearly two and a half years’ service as President, left the Chair, 
October 29, 1777, it was moved, “that the thanks of Congress be presented to 
him.” It was also moved, “ that it is improper to thank any President for the 
discharge of the duties of that office,” upon which motion the States were equally 
divided, Massachusetts voting in favor of the motion, and also to the same effect 
against the original motion of thanks. 

Whereupon, Congress being unable, apparently, to choose a successor, it was 
resolved, “that the Secretary officiate as President until a new choice is made,” 
which was done by the election of Henry Laurens, of South Carolina, on November 
1st, following. 

On Wednesday, December 9fch, 1778, Congress being met, the President, 
Henry Laurens, took the Chair, but before any business was entered on he arose, 
and having assigned sundry reasons why he could not continue longer to execute 
the office of President, he resigned, and immediately quitted the Chair. 

DELEGATES. 

1774— forty-five delegates were appointed September 5,1774, as shown by the 
credentials read. No vote is recorded, but the names of fifty-two delegates are 
signed to the “plan of association” adopted 18th, and signed 20th October, 1774, 
the increase being delegates who were appointed and took their seats later. 

1775— The number of delegates cannot be ascertained, the list of names 


CONTINENTAL CONGRESS. 


4t> 

being very incomplete, as some held over from 1774, ethers were appointed who 
did not appear, and no vote being taken, those present cannot be verified. 

1776— fifty-six members; credentials of those from New Hampshire, New 
York, North Carolina and South Carolina do not appear; the delegates from 
those colonies appear to have held over; no vote is of record, except that of the 
signers of the Declaration. 

1777— sixty-eight delegates appointed; average attendance, twenty-eight; 
highest vote, thirty-one. 

1778— seventy-one delegates appointed, the largest number to any one Con¬ 
gress ; average vote, twenty-eight; highest, thirty-one. 

1779— forty-three delegates appointed; average vote, twenty-five; highest, 
thirty-seven. 

1780— forty-nine delegates appointed ; no vote of record. 

1781— sixty-five delegates appointed; average vote, twenty-five; highest, 

thirty-three. , 

The delegates twice acted in their individual capacity, only, to-wit: When 
they signed the Plan of Association, October 24, 1774, and the Declaration of 
Independence, which were the only documents signed by members as individuals, 
otherwise their votes, when recorded, were by Colonies or States. The Articles 
of Confederation were signed by members as delegates. 

MEETINGS. 

The operation of the armies made the Congress at times a “ shifting use,” and 
while Philadelphia was designated as the place of meeting, the occupation of the 
city by the British compelled Congress to often meet elsewhere, as they did at 
Baltimore, Annapolis, Lancaster, and York or Yorktown, as it was called. 

Congress frequently met twice a day, and occasionally held an evening ses¬ 
sion. It appears to have had two sessions on Sunday, August 3, and September 
14,1777. 

SECRETARIES. 

Chas. Thompson was elected Secretary of Congress September 5, 1774, and 
continuously re-elected each succeeding Congress until the Continental Congress 
ceased, or was merged into the Congress of the United States. He was chosen 
“Acting President” of Congress upon the resignation of John Hancock, and 
served as such until Henry Laurens was elected. 

W. C. Houston was chosen Deputy Secretary March 25, 1777. 

George Bond was appointed Deputy Secretary November 16, 1779. 

CLERK. 

Timothy Matlock was chosen Clerk to Congress May 15, 1775. 

DOORKEEPER. 

Isaac Lefevre and James Lynch were appointed September 7, 1774. 

Robert Patten was also appointed doorkeeper. 

Robert Hurrie, 1779-80, at $8, $10, $20, $40 per day. 

John Fry, appointed March 12,1781. 

MESSENGER. 

James Long was appointed Messenger. 


CONTINENTAL CONGRESS. 


47 


PRINTERS TO CONGRESS. 

Robert Aitkin, bookseller, Front street, Philadelphia, printed 300 copies of 
Vols. I and II, in 1777, by order of Congress, September 26,1776. 

James Patterson, New York, printed Vol. III. 

David C. Claypool, Philadelphia, “ Printer to the Honorable Congress,” printed 
Vols. IV and V. 

John Dunlap printed Vol. VI. 

John Patterson, New York, printed Vol. VII, in 1787. 

January 6, 1779, John Dunlap, printer, was brought before Congress for 
printing Thomas Paine’s article signed “Common Sense,” in the newspaper 
called the “ Pennsylvania Packet.” 

CHAPLAINS. 

The Congress of the Revolution was composed of men selected from the sev¬ 
eral colonies for their memorable conduct of the affairs of the incipient nation, 
who were no less distinguished for their talents, than their patriotism. They 
were not only acquainted with their rights, but knew how to assert and main¬ 
tain them. They were evidently men of an earnest and practical piety, for one of 
the very first acts after assembling was the selection of a Chaplain. The Rev. 
Mr. Duche was chaplain of the First, Second and Third Congresses. During the 
session of the Third Congress he resigned on account of ill health, and, at his 
request, Congress deposited his salary with the Committee of Safety of Pennsyl¬ 
vania, to be applied to the relief of widows and children of such Pennsylvania 
officers as have fallen in battle. 

Rev. Wm. White, (afterward the second Bishop of the Episcopal Church in 
America), and the Rev. P. Allison were elected Chaplains. Rev. Mr. Allison 
declined the appointment, when Rev. George Duffield was appointed as his suc¬ 
cessor. These chaplains were voted the sum of 8400 per year. 

It is related of Bishop White, that while sitting one day at a dinner with 
that bold financier of the revolutionary time, Robert Morris, the latter said: 
“Bishop, I have made my will, and have devised to you all my impudence.” “In 
that case,” replied the Bishop, “ yon have certainly left me the greater part of 
your estate.” “Yes, Bishop,” interposed Mrs. White, “and it is plain you have 
entered immediately upon your inheritance.” 

“ The story,” says a lineal descendant of Bishop White, in a note to the writer, 
“ is true, barring that the victim was Gouverneur, and not Robert, Morris. Gov- 
erneur Morris could be impudent in social intercourse, and the Bishop doubtless 
thought him fair game.” 

RECONCILIATION. 

May 26, 1775, New Jersey, desirous of making all proper advances to effect a 
reconciliation of the unhappy differences between the parent State and the Col¬ 
onies, while being unable to comply with and adopt, directed the delegates of 
that colony to lay before Congress for consideration the resolution adopted by the 
British House of Commons, February 20th, 1775, in effect proposing that when¬ 
ever any Colony should make provision for “contributing their proportion for 
the common defence” and the support of the civil government, such Colony 
shall be relieved of any duty, tax or assessment, except such duties as might be 


48 


CONTINENTAL CONGRESS. 


imposed for the regulation of commerce, etc., to which Congress made reply, June, 
31, 1775, asserting rights similar to those afterwards set forth in the Declaration. 

SEPARATION. 

While the under current was undoubtedly in favor of a separation, and even 
Nova Scotia seriously contemplated joining the colonies in their struggle against 
the Mother country, it does not appear that the general sentiment at the outset 
was in favor of independence; indeed, some of the credentials of the delegates of 
the First, and also of the Second Congress, acknowledged fealty to the King, and 
the jurat, affixing the official seal, closed with the words, “ XIII year of the reign 
of our Lord and King, George III,” etc. The first credentials of Jefferson had a 
similar jurat. 

The address to the King, adopted at the close of the First Congress, said to 
have been written by John Dickinson, contained an appeal that the Ministers of 
the King be overruled, so that the relations between the Mother country and the 
Colonies might be restored. 

On June 11, 1776, the first formal step looking toward a confederation was 
taken, by the adoption of a resolution “ to appoint a committee to prepare and 
digest a form of confederation to be entered into between these colonies,” which, 
it was decided on the 12th, should consist of one member from each colony, to-wit: 
Bartlett.of New Hampshire, Adams of Massachusetts, Hopkins of Rhode Island, 
Sherman of Connecticut, R. R. Livingston of New York, N. Y. Dickinson of 
Pennsylvania, McKean of Delaware, Stone of Maryland, Nelson of Virginia, 
Hewes of North Carolina, E. Randolph of South Carolina, Gwinett of Georgia. 
No member appears to have been appointed from New Jersey, possibly because 
there were no members from that State at the time, as delegates were appointed 
some ten days later, the credentials being presented on the 28th June. Of those 
appointed, Mr. R. R. Livingston of New York, who was also a member of the 
Committee to draft the Declaration, did not serve, neither did he serve as a mem¬ 
ber of the Committee to prepare the Declaration, nor vote for it, but disappeared 
from Congress, and did not serve again as a member until 1779 and ? 84. Mr. John 
Dickinson of Pennsylvania was appointed a member of the Committee, and 
although a form of confederation in his handwriting was afterward considered by 
Congress, Mr. Dickinson apparently did not serve with the Committee, but also 
left Congress before the adoption of the Declaration. Mr. Dickinson, then famil¬ 
iarly known as the “ Pennsylvania Farmer,” was the author of some of the most 
noted Declarations adopted by the First as well as the Second Congress, but evi¬ 
dently was not in favor of a separation from Great Britain, and an independent 
government. 

PROGRESS. 

The progress from Colonies to Colonial Association, Confederation, and finally 
National Union or United States, was gradual, but sure. The harmony of opin¬ 
ions, merging of interests of sections into nationality was slow, but the solidifica¬ 
tion was the result of the necessity of self preservation. 

The germ was sown in the Commercial Congress of 1753, at Albany; it took 
root in the Congress at New York in 1764, and burst forth the next decade in the 
Continental Congress at Philadelphia in 1774; and while at the outset the idea 
of conciliation with the Mother country was uppermost, even with Franklin, as 


CONTINENTAL CONGRESS. 


49 


late as the first consideration of the Articles of Confederation, as shown in a draft 
which was made by him; but the idea was swept aside by the force of circum¬ 
stances, and even John Dickinson, who opposed the Declaration, also made a 
draft of Articles of Confederation which looked to a separate and distinct 
government. 

While a majority of the Colonies promptly gave adhesion to the proposed 
confederation, others declined at the outset, unless changes were made in the 
Articles as agreed upon by the Congress. One objected because the word “white” 
was not stricken out; others, notably Maryland, because the Western boundaries 
of the several colonies were not defined, and the land beyond, even to the then 
unknown South Sea, apportioned to the several colonies. The contest between 
Pennsylvania and Connecticut upon this point, threatened at one time to become 
more serious than that between New York and New Hampshire, in regard to the 
then so-called Vermont. New York apparently paved the way for a settlement 
of the disputes about the public land, by the relinquishment of her quota; but, 
while this action had its effect, there were no lands north and west of New York, 
as referred to in the deed of cession, to which that colony could lay claim, hence 
the proposal of Maryland that all the colonies relinquish their respective claims 
to such lands, and vest their right to the same in the United States prevailed, and 
solved the difficult question. 

ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION. 

Articles of Confederation were reported by the Committee, which were read, 
and eighty copies, and no more, were ordered to be printed and deposited with 
the Secretary, to deliver one copy to each member; “ that the printer be under 
oath to deliver all copies he shall print, together with the copy sheet, to the Sec¬ 
retary, and not to disclose, either directly or indirectly, the contents of the said 
confederation; that no member shall furnish any person with his copy, or take 
any steps by which said confederation may be printed, and that the said Secretary 
be under like injunction.” 

July 22,1776, Congress resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole, to take 
into consideration the Articles of Confederation; and again, on the 24th, 25th, 
26th, 29th, 30th, 31st, July, and August 1st, 2d, 7th and 8th. 

On August 20th, Articles were again submitted from Committee of the 
Whole, of which eighty copies were Ordered printed, under the same injunction 
as before, and were finally agreed to, November 15,1777, or seventeen months after 
the Committee to prepare the Articles was appointed. 

Congress, at Yorktown, November 17, 1777, “having agreed upon a plan of 
Confederacy for securing the freedom, sovereignty, and independence of the 
United States, transmitted authentic copies to the several legislatures for consid¬ 
eration, to form a permanent Union accommodated to the wishes of * * * so 
many States, differing in habits, produce, commercial and internal policy, was 
* * * a work w T hicli nothing but time and reflection * * * with a dispo¬ 
sition to conciliate, could mature and accomplish. 

“Hardly was it to be expected that any plan * * * should meet with the 

views of every State, but this was proposed as the best which could be adapted to 
the circumstances of all, and the best which would afford any prospect of being 
ratified.” 


50 


CONTINENTAL CONGRESS . 


“The Articles were earnestly recommended” to the immediate and dispas¬ 
sionate attention of the respective States, under a sense of the difficulty of com¬ 
bining into a system the various sentiments and interests of a continent divided 
into so many sovereign and independent communities.” 

“ While regretting this delay in preparing the Articles, * * * every mo¬ 
tion called loudly for its conclusion by ratification, * * * as being essential 
to the existence of a free people, without which we may bid adieu to indepen¬ 
dence, to liberty, and to safety.” 

The Articles of Confederation were signed by forty-eight members, ten of 
whom were not present at their adoption, [July 9th, 1778,] two of the absentees 
did not sign until February and May following, and one did not sign until March 1st, 
1781, when Maryland ratified and so joined the confederation. 

On February 24,1781, on the report of the Committee appointed to report the 
mode of announcing the final ratification of the Articles of Confederation, it was, 

“ Resolved, That on Thursday next. March 1st, 1781, at 12 o'clock, the formal 
ratification of the Confederation of the United States be announced to the public, 
and that the board of war and the board of admiralty take orders accordingly. 

“ That this important event be communicated to the executive of the several 
States, to the members of the§e States in Europe, and that they notify the several 
courts at which they reside; also, that the information be transmitted to the 
Commander-in-Chief, he to announce the same to the army.” 

Friday, March 2,1781, the Articles of Confederation having been duly signed, 
the Congress of the United States assembled, and the “Continental” Congress 
ceased to exist. 

CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES. 

The first Congress under the confederation met March 2, 1781—thirty-one 
delegates present; Hon. Samuel Huntington was chosen President. On the first 
vote, March IGfcli, to-wit: On a resolution “ recommending the several States to 
amend their laws making bills of credit, emitted under the authority of Congress, 
a legal tender, so that such bills shall not be a tender in any other manner than 
at their current value compared with gold and silver,” only twenty-seven dele¬ 
gates voted. 


I have scarcely gone outside the official record for the facts set forth in this 
paper, except, perhaps, for a few relating to individuals. And what is that 
record? Here, venerable with age, is one of the 300 original copies of the Jour¬ 
nals of Continental Congress, so-called, containing the history of the origin, 
progress, adoption and signing of the Declaration of Independence, printed by 
the order of Congress, made September 26, 1776, prepared and revised by the 
hand of Charles Thompson, Secretary of Continental Congress through all its 
vicissitudes. 

The venerable dust which this volume leaves upon the palm, is that which 
existed when those of whom we now speak were alive ; by that dust we seem to 
clasp the hands, and stand in the shadow of the halo of glory of those whose 
names have become immortal. 

Of this venerable body, while they are dead to life, to their country they still 
live, and will live forever. 



CONTINENTAL CONGRESS. 


51 


While we, as Companions of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion, rejoice 
that the “ war is over,” that both sides have not only a mutual respect for, as well 
as fraternize with, each other, yet— 

Should a comparison be made between the motives and actors in the Revolu¬ 
tion and those of the later rebellion, we might say that: 

One was for the defence of the rights of freemen, the other for the perpetua¬ 
tion of slavery; one was for the right of representation, the other to enforce dis¬ 
franchisement ; one was for the right of free speech and self respect, the other to 
subject a people to oppression and degradation ; the one to make men, the other 
to make slaves; one had the sympathy and support of nations, the other their 
detestation ; the actors in one are deemed patriots, those in the other were deemed 
traitors; the people of one have taken their place among the great nations of 
the earth; the people of the other are forgotten, only as they are a part of that 
nation by whose magnanimity they are permitted now to claim its citizenship 
and protection. 

Such has been the impartial verdict of history, and such it will continue to 
be so long as history shall last, and the example is, and will be, a beacon light on 
the shores of the great ocean of time, to guide the people in the course of revolu¬ 
tion for the right, and to point out the dangerous shores and rocks in the course 
of a rebellion for wrong. 


Expenses incurred by the respective States during the Revolutionary War: 


APPROPRIATED. EXPENDED. 

New Hampshire.,-...$ 4,278,015 $ 3,195,061 

Massachusetts. 17,964,613 11,705,733 

Rhode Island. 3,782,974 1,805,366 

Connecticut. 9,285,737 5,829,493 

New York. 7,179,982 5,219,951 

New Jersey,. 5,342,770 3,999,449 

Pennsylvania. 14,137,076 9,446,390 

Delaware. 839,319 609,421 

Maryland. 7,568,145 5,975,514 

Virginia. 19,085,981 15,282,865 

North Carolina. 10,427,586 7,276,228 

South Carolina. 11,523,299 5,743,035 

Georgia. 2,993,800 1,578,472 


Total.$114,409,297 $77,682,978 

— Pitkin , 77, 538. 



















ERRATA. 


Page 16, Pennsylvania, 33 instead of 32. 

“ “ Maryland, 21 instead of 20. 

Page 21, William Few, instead of Fero. 

Samuel Holton appears of record June, 1778, as a delegate from Massachu¬ 
setts, but his name does not appear in the official credentials. 






